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University of Warwick and Tile Hill College in Largest Ever Study of Further Education

Originally Published 27 October 2000

The University of Warwick and Tile Hill college in Coventry are to be two of the partners in the largest ever nationally funded research project into Further Education (a grant of £830,000) from the Economic and Social Research Council - ESRC) in a research initiative entitled "Transforming Learning Cultures in Further Education".

Professor Gleeson of the Institute of Education at the University of Warwick and his co-researchers (4 English universities and 4 colleges of Further Education - see notes for editors for details) have been awarded the grant as part of a 4 year project under the ESRC's Teaching and Learning Research Programme supported by £12m nationwide.

The project aims to deepen understanding of learning and teaching with particular regard to learning cultures in FE sector colleges. It will examine opportunities for the enhancement of learning cultures and the improvement of learning and achievement.

Professor Gleeson said:

"I am delighted that we have been successful in such a tough competition. This research will make a major contribution to understanding learning and teaching in FE and provide an essential reference point for future national policy. The project will entail working in partnership with teachers and others in FE colleges. This partnership will ensure that questions of educational practice remain clearly in focus throughout and that the study will provide an important basis for institutional and individual decision-making."

Tile Hill are one of the four FE colleges that are partners in this scheme. Tile Hill College Principal, Paul Taylor said:

"We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen to partner Warwick University in this, the largest ever state-funded research project into teaching and learning in the further education sector. This project will give a real thrust to gaining a greater understanding of the ways in which FE students learn best & the types of intervention which might prove to be most fruitful. I want our research to benefits all colleges and students in further education."

Note for Editors: The research runs from March 2001 to 2005. It involves close co-operation between the researchers and teaching staff at 4 Universities and 4 Further Education Colleges in the Midlands, North, West and South West of England. The research team is Professor Martin Bloomer (project co-ordinator, Exeter University), Professor Denis Gleeson (Warwick), Professor Phil Hodkinson (Leeds), Dr. David James (West of England, Bristol) and Dr. Keith Postlethwaite (Exeter).

For further details please contact:

Professor Denis Gleeson, Institute of Education
University of Warwick Tel: 024 7652806
Email d.gleeson@warwick.ac.uk


Further information about the above press release and all other media services at the University of Warwick can be obtained from:


Peter Dunn, Press Officer
University of Warwick
Coventry, CV4 7AL
West Midlands
Tel: 024 76 523708
Email: puapjd@warwick.ac.uk