Research Studentship in an aspect of the learning of
disabled students in higher education
Further Particulars
Applications are invited for a 3 year full-time PhD research studentship starting 1st
October 2003 (or as soon as possible thereafter). The research student will join an
established team researching disabled students’ experiences of teaching, learning
and assessment.
Candidates for the MPhil/PhD Studentship should:
 have a 2.1 or 1st first degree or a Master’s degree preferably in a social
science discipline
 be able to demonstrate interest in issues of teaching, learning and
assessment and/or disability
 have first hand knowledge and experience of the UK higher education
system
 be committed to completing a higher degree by research
Appropriately qualified candidates who are familiar with social science and
educational research methodologies and who have an interest in student
learning are encouraged to apply. Applications from disabled candidates are
particularly welcome. Shortlisted candidates will be required to give an
indication of the likely scope and nature of their project during their interview.
Proposals might consider, for example, potential differences in the learning
experiences of students with a particular impairment; or the experiences of
disabled students studying a specific subject at a range of UK Higher
Education institutions.
Supervision
First supervisor: Professor Mary Fuller, School of Education
Second supervisor: Professor Mick Healey, School of Environment
The Studentship
This will take the form of up to 36 months funding at £7,500 pa, plus the
payment of fees, subject to an annual review of satisfactory progress. Further
funding may be available for research travel and conference participation
costs and the student will be supported in applying for additional funding.
Candidates with no prior research methods training at Masters level will also
participate in the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods, taking one
core research methods course and two modules specifically tailored to
research methods appropriate for the research project.
Background to the School of Education
The candidate will undertake their study in the School of Education, which is
one of two schools in the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, the other
being the School of Health and Social Sciences. In the 2001 Research
Assessment Exercise the School of Education achieved a rating of 3a, putting
it among the top new university Education departments. Fifteen members of
staff were submitted as research active, some active in 2 research areas.
Staff research was grouped into three areas:
 Identities and Inequalities (7 staff)
 Science and Environmental Education (3 staff)
 Developing Learning (8 staff)
Since then our research base has increased to 17 staff and our current
research priorities are:
 Identities and Inequalities
 Science and Environmental Education
 Developing Learning
 Citizenship.
Further details on the supervisory team
Professor Mary Fuller
Current research interests:
 Enhancing the educational experiences and outcomes of disabled
students in higher education
 Teaching, learning and assessment in higher education
 Inclusion in education (school and higher education)
 Examining the PhD
 Education of girls
Earlier research:
 Adolescent identity formation (minority ethnic groups)
 Development of multiracial/antiracist education policies
 Teaching of science in areas of social deprivation
 Education of gifted pupils
Mary Fuller is an experienced supervisor, currently supervising 6 PhD
candidates.
Indicative publications
M Fuller, M Healey, A Bradley and T Hall (in press, 2004) Barriers to learning:
a systematic study of the experience of disabled students in one university,
Studies in Higher Education
P Dooley and M Fuller (2003) ‘Use and ornament: girls in former boys’
independent schools’. In G Walford (ed.) British Private Schools. London:
Frank Cass/Woburn Press
A Pill, S Ryan and M Fuller (2001) Who dares develops. Innovations in
Education and Training International, 38 (1) 54-62
P Denicolo, M Fuller and C Boulter (1999) ‘The higher degree viva – a case of
constructive alternativism’. In J Fisher and D Savage (eds) Beyond
Experimentation into Meaning. Farnborough: EPCA
Professor Mick Healey
Has published 50 articles and books in the field of economic geography. He
has also written over 50 papers and books about learning and teaching in
higher education. His current research interests are:
 developing the scholarship of learning and teaching
 linking research and teaching
 an international study of Kolb's learning styles and concepts of learning
among geographers
 developing an inclusive curriculum for disabled students
 raising pedagogic research capacity through involvement of academics
in GEES in research into fieldwork.
Indicative publications
Healey M (2000) Developing the scholarship of teaching through the
disciplines. Higher Education Research and Development 19 (2) 169-189
Healey M (2001) Developing learning partnerships through the disciplines.
Research and Development in Higher Education 24, 42-50
Hall T, Healey M and Harrison M (2002) Disabled students and fieldwork: from
exclusion to inclusion. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers
27 (2) 213-231
Healey M and Jenkins A (2003) Academic development through the
disciplines. In Macdonald R and Eggins H (eds) The Scholarship of
Academic Development. Milton Keynes, Open University Press
(forthcoming)
You will be joining a team which is active in a number of disability and learning
projects:

2000-01 Learning support for disabled students undertaking fieldwork
and related activities HEFCE Improving Provision for Disabled
Students’ Fund: £51,500. (Geography Discipline Network). M Healey,
Director, and others. http://www.glos.ac.uk/gdn/disabil/

2001-2003 The teaching and learning experience of disabled students
Scholarship of Learning and Teaching Fund, University of
Gloucestershire: £16,000. M Fuller, Director, M Healey and T Hall.

2003-05 Developing an inclusive curriculum for disabled students: the
case of geography, earth and environmental sciences. HEFCE
Improving Provision for Disabled Students’ Fund. £147,513
(Geography Discipline Network) M Healey, Director, and others.
http://www.glos.ac.uk/gdn/icp/

2003-05 Disability CPD: continuing professional development for staff
involved in the learning and teaching of disabled students HEFCE
Improving Provision for Disabled Students’ Fund: £94,465 P
Gravestock, Director, M Fuller, M Healey and others.
http://www.glos.ac.uk/uog/content.asp?rid=62

2004-2007 Enhancing the quality and outcomes of disabled students’
learning in higher education ESRC Teaching and Learning Research
Programme: £430,000 M Fuller and M Healey, Co-directors, A Hurst,
S Riddell and T Wareham. Details of the programme can be found on
http://www.tlrp.org/
Application process
Potentially interested candidates are encouraged to contact Professor Mary
Fuller for an informal chat before applying (01242 532212; email:
mfuller@glos.ac.uk).
The application form can be downloaded from
http://www.glos.ac.uk/uogimages/documents/P/298_1.doc or obtained from
Research Administration.
The completed application form, accompanied by a letter of application,
outlining your interest in, and suitability for the studentship, should be sent to
Research Administration, University of Gloucestershire, The Park, GL50 2QF.
Closing date for applications Friday 22 August 2003
Interviews will take place on Tuesday 9 September
The successful candidate will be expected to start as soon as possible
thereafter.