As an experienced academic and qualified teacher in the UK, I have extensive experience of the education system of the UK, and also international experience. In recognition of this experience, the University of Glamorgan appointed me Emeritus Professor of Education on my retirement from the University in August 2011.

My international experience includes periods as visiting professor at Beijing Normal University, China, Hiroshima University, Japan, and the National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico, where I have taught courses on leadership and management, research methods and comparative education.

I have published dozens of articles in refereed research journals, as well as making presentations and giving keynote lectures at conferences. My publications include four books of which I am sole author, as well as several co-authored and edited contributions, and more that are currently inn preparation. Details of these books are given below.

Research

My first book, Theory of Education (Continuum, 2004), sets out an ambitious programme to change the paradigms of educational research to incorporate insights from game theory, linear programming and complexity theory, which have made such an important contribution to the field of economics, but have so far had only limited impact on educational theory. That book has been very well received, and compared by some very eminent reviewers to seminal educational texts from more than fifty years ago.

Theory and Practice in Education, (Continuum, 2007) took up some of those themes and showed what they would mean in terms of a practical approach to educational theory and educational research. Dr. Sue Beverton, Head of Teacher Education at Durham University reviewed the book, and concluded, “The thinking student will enjoy it. The lazy student will not!”, a judgement that is consonant with “enormity of the enterprise represented by the book”.

My book, Using the Medical Model in Education: Can a pill make you smarter? (Continuum, 2010) examines popular beliefs about education, through the current debate about the use of cognition enhancing drugs. It argues that education is a field of understanding that is quite distinct from medicine and psychology, but that the opinions of specialists in education are frequently under-valued.

My latest book, Quality in Higher Education, examines quality from the perspective of individual student experience, and employs a range of non-deterministic models, notably linear programming, to examine the flaws of current approaches to league tables. It incorporates earlier work that has been published in refereed journals and that is accumulating an increasing number of citations.

Work in progress in future books includes a Selected Works of Brain Holmes, one of the “founding fathers” of comparative education as an academic field, and an edited work on the impact of neo-liberal policies in education in a number of different countries around the world.

I have recently co-edited a special issue of Contemporary Social Science on biologising the social sciences, which scrutinizes the application of such concepts as evolutionary psychology and neuroscience to aspects of philosophy, the law, education, mental health and economics.

Consultancy

In 2000 I acted as the external evaluator of a rural education project running in Mexico. The programme was sponsored by the National Council for Educational Development (CONAFE) in coordination with the local offices of the Secretariat for Public Education (SEP), and funded by the World Bank. The evaluation involved visiting rural education centres in four states.

I have had extensive experience of mentoring colleagues, both in relation to teaching and learning, and in relation to research and developing a publication profile. Since 2005 I have supported colleagues whose first language is not English, and helped them to publish in English language journals. My motivation for this work is a concern over fair access to prestigious journals, which can be extremely important for junior colleagues who are developing a career. My clientele has ranged from Greece to China, and includes academics who have progressed their career, sometimes allowing them to move institution, or even country, as they develop their research track record.

In June 2009 I attended a conference on development planning in Mbale, Uganda, as a consultant attached to the Pont Community to Community Development Centre of the University of Glamorgan.

In 2011 I acted as consultant on a national review of childcare provision for children with special learning needs in Wales, which resulted in the publication of the report, Inclusion in the Early Years for Children with Additional Needs: A research project for Mudiad Meithrin (Cardiff: Mabis).

In February 2012 I ran a workshop for postgraduate students to support their academic writing in Khartoum, Sudan. This was part of the programme entitled Gender, Equity, Education and Poverty, which was funded by Norad, the Norwegian Agency for Development and Cooperation, and coordinated by the University of Oslo, Norway.

I am an external reviewer of grant applications for the funding council in Hong Kong.

I serve on the editorial boards of a number of prestigious journals and act as a reviewer of articles for still more.

Teaching and Learning

Between 1986 and 1991 I was involved with what I still regard as one of the most important experiments in higher education pedagogy of the twentieth century; I taught at the North East London Polytechnic’s School for Independent Study. The School exemplified in its practice many of the approaches that have since become commonplace: increasing the responsibility that students took for their own learning, setting explicit learning outcomes, clear assessment criteria, explicit feedback and an emphasis upon key skills, particularly interpersonal and study skills. Like a number of the colleagues that I worked with in the School, I subsequently went into staff development and the improvement of learning and teaching in universities.

When I joined the University of Glamorgan in 1998, I took over responsibility for running the university’s postgraduate certificate in learning and teaching in higher education, steering it through SEDA recognition and ILT accreditation in the first year.

I have been an invited speaker in universities and other educational institutions in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, India and the Netherlands.

Leadership

Since 1991 I have tried to incorporate what I learned about learning and teaching in the School for Independent Study into more traditional settings. Both at the University of East London and the University of Glamorgan, I have led teams developing postgraduate programmes that encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning. I have taken a similar approach to developing modules for undergraduate programmes. This has included trying to move away from formal teaching and to use student participation as fully as possible.

Administration

As a matter of general principle, I like things that I am involved with to work. Because of that, I do enough administration to ensure that I am involved with successes. I am an efficient administrator as a scheme or award leader, as a module leader, and as a tutor. My purpose as an administrator is to ensure that the needs that I and colleagues have in the future will be met with the minimum of effort. I do not value administration for its own sake, and therefore I do not extend it beyond the necessary.

Committee work

At a national and international level, I have played an active role in supporting the work of professional bodies in the social sciences. I was Honorary Secretary of the Association of Learned Societies in the Social Sciences for some years. When the Academy of Social Sciences was established I was Honorary Secretary of that body of the first six years of its existence. I was Treasurer of the World Council of Comparative Education Societies for twelve years. That record suggests that my skills are appreciated by those I have worked with.

Qualifications

Membership of Professional Bodies

Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences 2007 to date

Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (RSA), 1999 to date

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy 2007 to date

Treasurer of the World Council of Comparative Education Societies, 2000 to 2012

Member of the British Association for International and Comparative Education

Member of the Comparative Education Society in Europe

Member of the Comparative and International Education Society

Selected Recent Publications

Quality in Higher Education, Rotterdam, Sense Publishing, 2011

Using the Medical Model in Education: Can a pill make you smarter?, London, Continuum Books, 2009

A second, paperback edition of this book was published in October, 2011

Theory and Practice of Education, London, Continuum Books, 2007

A second, paperback edition of this book was published in March, 2009.

Theory of Education, London, Continuum Books, 2004

A second, paperback edition of this book was published in September, 2005.

“Education and Neuroscience”, in Contemporary Social Science, 2012, Vol.7, No.2, pp.167-179

“Which part of ‘two way street’ did you not understand? Redressing the balance of neuroscience and education”, in Educational Research Review, 2011, Vol. 6, No. 3, pp.223-231

“Freedom of Speech: Its exercise and its interpretation”, in British Journal of Educational Studies, 2010, Vol. 58, No. 3, pp. 285-291

“World University Rankings”, in Baker, David P. and Wiseman, Alexander W. (Eds.) (2008) The Worldwide Transformation of Higher Education (Bingley: JAI Press) 2008, Chapter 2, pp. 27-61

With M.Connolly and N. Jones, “E-Learning: A fresh look” in Higher Education Management and Policy, Vol.18, No.3, 2006, pp.135-146

“Development, globalization and decentralization: Comparative research towards a theory for managing diversity” in Zajda, J. (ed.) International Handbook on Globalization, Education and Policy Research, Berlin, Springer International, 2005, 85-92

“Benchmarking in Universities: League Tables Revisited”, in Oxford Review of Education, September , 2005, Vol. 31, No.3, pp.353-371

“Privatisation, Decentralisation and Education in the United Kingdom: The role of the State”, in International Review of Education, 2004, Vol. 50, pp. 347-357

Publications List

Books

Quality in Higher Education, Rotterdam, Sense Publishing, 2011

Using the Medical Model in Education: Can a pill make you smarter?, London, Continuum Books, 2009

Theory and Practice of Education, London, Continuum Books, 2007

Theory of Education, London, Continuum Books, 2004

A second, paperback edition of this book was published in September, 2005. I am in discussion with the publisher relating to a translation of the book into Japanese and Spanish.

Edited Books

Turner, D. (Ed.) Education Beyond the State, Ipswich, British Comparative and International Education Society, 1995

The volume includes an Editor’s Introduction, and a chapter entitled, “The Creation of Quality in Higher Education: The role of the learned societies”, both by the editor.

Edited Works: Contributions

“Education and Neuroscience: Paradigmatic relativism and theories of knowledge”, in J.Cynthia McDermott, Alison Kingston and Maria Matulčikova (Eds) Paradigms and Research of Educational Practice (Los Angeles: Department of Education, Antioch University) 2012, pp.23-30

“The Twin Fields of Comparative and International Education” in A Tribute to David N. Wilson: Clamouring for a Better World (Rotterdam: Sense Publishers) 2010, pp. 261-270

“The Education System of England and Wales”, in Steyn, H.J. and Wolhuter, C.C.  (Eds.) (2008) Education Systems: Challenges of the 21^st Century (Noordbrug: Keurkopie Uitgewers) 2008, Chapter 8, pp. 267-298

“World University Rankings”, in Baker, David P. and Wiseman, Alexander W. (Eds.) (2008) The Worldwide Transformation of Higher Education (Bingley: JAI Press) 2008, Chapter 2, pp. 27-61

“Vygotsky and the History of the Development of Higher Mental Functions: What’s in a title?” in Kozuh, B, Kahn, R., Kozlowska, A. and Wolze, W. (eds.) New Paradigms and Methods in Educational and Social Research, Los Angeles, Graduate Education Initiatives, 2007, 53-62

“Development, globalization and decentralization: Comparative research towards a theory for managing diversity” in Zajda, J. (ed.) International Handbook on Globalization, Education and Policy Research, Berlin, Springer International, 2005, 85-92

“The Butterfly of Motivation: Two approaches to the theory of education” in Kozuh, B. Kahn, R. and Kozlowska, A., Theory, Facts and Interpretation in Educational and Social Research Los Angeles, Czestochowa, 2004, pp. 45-52

“Egalité de sexes et politiqué éducative en Grande-Bretagne”, in Les multiples facettes de l’efficacité en éducation, Fribourg, Switzerland, Editions Universitaires, 1999, pp. 49-62

With Jozef Loksa, “Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, The Slovak Republic: Gradual but Sure”, Sabloff, P. (Ed.) Higher Education in the Post-Communist World: Case studies of eight universities New York, Garland, 1998, pp. 137-161

“University Funding”, in Gokulsing, K. and DaCosta, C. Usable Knowledges as the Goal of Higher Education, Lampeter, Edwin Mellen Press, 1997, pp. 71-89

“Formula Funding in Higher Education: Neither Centralised nor Decentralised”, in K.Watson, C.Modgil and S.Modgil (Eds.) Educational Dilemmas: Debate and Diversity. Volume 2: Reforms in Higher Education, London, Cassell, 1997, pp. 92-104

“International Educational Reform”, in Lenhart, V. and Hörner, H. Aspekte Internationaler Erziehungswissenschaft, Weinheim, Deutscher Studien Verlag, 1996, pp. 25-31

“Changing Patterns of Funding Higher Education in Europe” (Meniace sa spôsoby financovania vysokých škôl v Európe) (In English and Slovak) in Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic Funding Higher Education in  the Slovak Republic: Basic Principles, Bratislava, Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic, 1995, pp. 232-256

“The Influence of the New Education on Educational Reform in England”, in Röhrs, H. and Lenhart, V. (Eds) Progressive Education Across the Continents, Frankfurt, Peter Lang, 1995, pp. 333-349

“Game Theory in Comparative Education: Prospects and propositions”, in J.Schriewer (ed.) Theories and Methods in Comparative Education, Frankfurt/New York: Peter Lang, 2nd Edition, 1990, pp. 143-163

[Chinese translation published in 1994; Italian translation published 1996, Japanese translation in preparation]

Academic Journal Papers

“Promoting a Dialogue between Neuroscience and Education” in Educational Practice and Theory, 2012, Vol.34, pp.**

“Education and Neuroscience”, in Contemporary Social Science, 2012, Vol.7, No.2, pp.167-179

“Which part of ‘two way street’ did you not understand? Redressing the balance of neuroscience and education”, in Educational Research Review, 2011, Vol. 6, No. 3, pp.223-231

“Freedom of Speech: Its exercise and its interpretation”, in British Journal of Educational Studies, 2010, Vol. 58, No. 3, pp. 285-291

With M.Connolly and N. Jones, “E-Learning: A fresh look” in Higher Education Management and Policy, 2006, Vol.18, No.3, pp.135-146

“Benchmarking in Universities: League Tables Revisited”, in Oxford Review of Education, September , 2005, Vol. 31, No.3, pp.353-371

“Ten Ways to Misunderstand Dewey”, in New Era in Education, April 2005, Vol.86, No.1, pp.2-6

 “Benchmarking Universities: The Canadian case”, in World Studies in Education, Vol.5, No.2, 2004

“Alternative Structures for Lifelong Learning”, in New Era in Education, 2004, Vol.85, No.1, pp.14-15

“Privatisation, Decentralisation and Education in the United Kingdom: The role of the State”, in International Review of Education, 2004, Vol. 50, pp. 347-357

With Arthur Morgan and Danny Saunders “Community Consortia and Post-compulsory Education: a local approach to local problems” in Journal of Vocatrional Education and Training, 2004, Vol. 56, No. 2, pp. 227-244

With M.G.Gonzalez de Turner, “Enterprising Students as the Missing Link in Rural Development: The case of post-primary education in Mexico” in Education Today, 2004, Vol.54, No.3, pp.11-16

With Kernohan, D. “What is the Impact of the RAE?”, New Era in Education, 2003, Vol.84, No.2, pp.56-62

With Norah Jones and Arthur Morgan, “The E-College and quality assurance: the irresistible and the immovable”, Quality Assurance in Education, 2002, Vol.10, No.4, pp.229-236

“An Academy for the Social Sciences: an academy for the 21^st century” in Higher Education Review, 2002, pp. 33-42

With Masateru Baba, “Nationalisation versus Privatisation of Higher Education Systems in the UK and Japan”, Journal of the Faculty of Education, Shinshu University, 2002, No.105, pp.131-140

With M. Guadalupe Gonzalez de Turner, “Technological Development and Comparative Education Studies” in World Studies in Education, 2001, Vol.2, No.1, pp.95-109

With M. Guadalupe G. de Turner, “Education as the Missing Link in Rural Development: The Case of Post-primary Education in Mexico”, in New Era in Education, 2001, Vol.82, No.1, pp.8-13

With Baba M and Shimada K, “Academic degree conferment in the UK and Japan excluding universities” in Higher Education Policy, 1999, vol 12, 41 - 51, ISSN 0952-8733

“La Reforme Educative En Angleterre: L'Idee Regulatrice De Discipline” in Perspectives, 1998, vol 28, part 4, 591 - 602, ISSN 0304-3045 (“School Reform in England: The function of norms relating to discipline” in Prospects vol.28, no.4)

“Changing Patterns of Funding Higher Education in Europe”, in Higher Education Management, Vol.8, No.1, 1996, pp101-111

With John Pratt, “Funding Polytechnics in England: An Application of Non-linear Programming”, in Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Volume 29, Number 4, December 1995, pages 315 - 324.

“Formula Funding of Higher Education in the Czech Republic: Creating an open system”, in Studies in Higher Education, Vol.19, No.2, Summer 1994, pp. 139-150

“The New Education Fellowship: The growth of progressive education” in The New Era in Education, Vol.74, No.3, December 1993, pp.71-75