This site aims to examine what doctoral study is and how postgraduate research impacts those undertaking doctoral study, and the field that they are working in. The focus of the site is going to be on Educational Policy, Leadership and Management. The site may have leverage for other disciplines.

The site will focus on developing a network for those interested in Doctoral Study.

A seminar series will help develop the network. The first seminar will take place in Leicester on the 26th October 2010 and is entitled The Impact of Doctoral Study on Educational Policy, Leadership and Management.

At the first seminar three leading international scholars presented.  Professor Richard Pring, Lead Director of the Nuffield Review of 14-19 Education and Training and Emeritus Fellow of Green Templeton College, Oxford University, UK gave a Key Note. Professor Carolyn Shields’ research focused on issues of leadership and social justice in diverse contexts. Professor Shields has conducted various studies including research into transformative leadership in cross-cultural communities and the role of dialogue and spirituality in creating more holistic and inclusive school communities. Professor Shields flew to England from the US specifically for this seminar and to give her key note. Professor Steven Rayner’s research focused on individual differences in teaching, learning and leadership, the management of inclusion and special education, doctoral pedagogies for professional learning and leadership and professorial academic leadership. Professor Rayner was the discussant at the Seminar.

An early evening wine reception was hosted by The School of Education for a book launch for Dr Alison Taysum’s new book: Taysum, A. (2010) Evidence Informed Leadership in Education. London: Continuum. Speakers at the book launch included Professor Paul Cooper, University of Leicester, UK, Dr Alison Taysum, University of Leicester, UK, and Professor Richard Pring, Oxford University, UK.

At the second seminar four leading international scholars presented at the Institute of Education, London. Professor David Scott, Professor of Curriculum at the Institute of Education examined current issues in knowledge production in the doctorate. Professor Richard Andrews, Prof. of English at The Institute of Education examined new forms of the doctorate considering the influence of multimodality and e-learning on the nature and format of doctoral theses in education and the social sciences. Professor Ronald Glass, Director, University of California, Center for Collaborative Research for an Equitable California examined collaborative research, knowledge production, and social justice. Professor Pat Thomson, Director of the Centre for Research in Schools and Communities, University of Nottingham was the discussant drawing on her leading edge publications on the doctorate, including postgraduate writing pedagogies.

At the third seminar held in Oxford Dr Eugenie Samier (The British University in Dubai) examined: ‘Western Doctoral Programmes as Public Service, Cultural Diplomacy or Intellectual Imperialism? Considerations of a Canadian Teaching Educational Management and Leadership in the United Arab Emirates’. Prof Marlene Morrison (Oxford Brookes University) explored: ‘Leadership development and doctoral study: entrenching banality or revitalising theory, research, and practice? Prospects for authentic knowledge creation’.

At the fourth seminar held at the University of Leicester on the 29th May 2012 Professor Yusef Waghid examined Democratic Citizenship, Education and Islamic Education: On Sceptical Doctoral Encounters. Professor Alan Tuckett (OBE) Looked at Agency, adult learning and globalization.

The evaluation report on the First BELMAS DRIG Seminar Series is published here.

A book proposal emerging from the BELMAS DRIG Seminar Series is currently being developed.

The BELMAS DRIG Seminar Series has established a network and is now developing further seminars, calls for which will be uploaded onto this site along with links to other relevant seminars to the BELMAS DRIG.

A fourth seminar was held at the University of Leicester on Tuesday 29th May from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm with key notes from Professor Yusef Waghid, and  Professor Alan Tuckett (OBE). For details please go to the seminar page of this website.

For further information about the BELMAS DRIG do email Dr Alison Taysum on ast11@le.ac.uk

or  Mr Richard Davis on RDavis50@btconnect.com