ESRC-DFID Raising Learning Outcomes in Education Systems Research Programme, Programme Research Lead
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Education
Abstract
The ESRC-DFID Raising Learning Outcomes research programme aims to build the evidence on critical policy areas that currently constrain education systems in developing countries from translating resources into better learning for all, and ultimately positive social and economic change.
The £20 million programme aims to enable more effective policies and interventions by providing policymakers and practitioners with concrete ideas on how to improve learning for all and an understanding of how these ideas will translate to their specific contexts and institutions. It is achieving this through funding a portfolio of world class and cutting edge research that increases understanding of how complex relationships between elements of the education system, the context in which they are embedded, and the dynamics operating within the system impact on efforts to raise learning outcomes for all.
Three annual research calls have taken a different but complementary theme within this overall focus on interactions between system elements, context and dynamics and how this impacts on raising learning outcomes. Call 1 focused on effective teaching as a system element, call 2 focused on challenging contexts, and call 3 focused on the dynamic of accountability. 29 research projects have been funded.
The Programme Research Lead will help to maximise the scientific value of the programme by identifying, promoting and supporting opportunities for research collaboration and synergy across the portfolio of grants.
It will seek to publish evidence of the scientific, conceptual and methodological contributions of the programme and develop a sophisticated analysis of how the research under the programme aligns more strategically with those of the broader scientific landscape.
The £20 million programme aims to enable more effective policies and interventions by providing policymakers and practitioners with concrete ideas on how to improve learning for all and an understanding of how these ideas will translate to their specific contexts and institutions. It is achieving this through funding a portfolio of world class and cutting edge research that increases understanding of how complex relationships between elements of the education system, the context in which they are embedded, and the dynamics operating within the system impact on efforts to raise learning outcomes for all.
Three annual research calls have taken a different but complementary theme within this overall focus on interactions between system elements, context and dynamics and how this impacts on raising learning outcomes. Call 1 focused on effective teaching as a system element, call 2 focused on challenging contexts, and call 3 focused on the dynamic of accountability. 29 research projects have been funded.
The Programme Research Lead will help to maximise the scientific value of the programme by identifying, promoting and supporting opportunities for research collaboration and synergy across the portfolio of grants.
It will seek to publish evidence of the scientific, conceptual and methodological contributions of the programme and develop a sophisticated analysis of how the research under the programme aligns more strategically with those of the broader scientific landscape.
Planned Impact
Not applicable
People |
ORCID iD |
| David Johnson (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Magrath B
(2019)
Raising Learning Outcomes in the Education Systems of Developing Countries: Research Designs, Methods, and Approaches
in Research in Comparative and International Education
Magrath B
(2019)
Systems Research in Education: Designs and methods
in Research in Comparative and International Education
| Description | The objective of the grant is to maximise our understanding of the factors that facilitate of impede young people from learning effectively and at sufficient pace. The grant draws its 'learning' from a portfolio of research funded by the ESRC under the Raising Learning Outcomes in Education Systems portfolio of grants - 31 in all. The core theoretical questions and methodological approaches employed by the portfolio of grants are being synthesised. This has allowed for the development of a strong central narrative on the ecologies of educational systems and insights into innovations that have and that are likely to prove effective in raising learning outcomes. Early findings and the richness of methodological approaches that underpin the portfolio are being shared at two international research conferences and have formed proposals for a book series (3 volumes) and 2 special issues in top quality journals. A special issue of Research in Comparative and International Education (SAGE) is being published (March 2019). The issue, titled 'Systems Research in Education: Methods and approaches in the Raising Learning Outcomes Research Programme' is a collection of articles from 8 of the 31 research projects. A book contract has been agreed by Bloomsbury Press but any papers arising from the Programme will be published after the end of the award. A proposal for a special issue on 'accountability' has been submitted to the journal 'Oxford Review in Education'. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings are likely to be of interest to scholars in educational and international development. They will feed directly into the work of the Impact Initiative who are responsible for stimulating policy impact and uptake. |
| Sectors | Education |
| Description | Aga Khan Foundation and Aga Khan Development Network |
| Organisation | Aga Khan Foundation |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Alignment of research activities to the grant. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partner activities include symposiums and workshops that are aligned to the aims of the grant and grantee provides intellectual input to partner research and activities. |
| Impact | One day Symposium, Balliol College 3 March 2018 |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | ESRC-DFID RLO Public Seminar Series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The following seminars were given at 5pm on Tuesdays in the Syndicate Room, St Antony's College: Andrew Cunningham and Tom Beresford, Aga Khan Foundation 16 Jan: 'Can we do more with technology to improve learning outcomes? Insights from 16 Countries in Eastern, Western, Central and Southern Africa' Professor Ulrike Zeshan, Central Lancashire 23 Jan: 'From development to vitalisation: multiliteracies research with deaf communities in India' Professor Ricardo Sabates and Dr Ben Alcott, Cambridge 30 Jan: 'Can schools' accountability for learning be strengthened from the grassroots? Investigating the potential for community school partnerships in India' Professor Paul Lynch, Birmingham 6 Feb: 'Examining early development and school readiness of children with disabilities in Malawi through a bio-ecological systems theory' Professor Nicola Ansell, Brunel 13 Feb: 'Education and aspiration in rural Lesotho, India and Laos'. Professor Pauline Rose, Cambridge 20 Feb: 'Are children with disabilities in school learning?: Evidence from India and Pakistan' Professor Rebecca Schendel, UCL 27 Feb: 'Teaching for critical thinking: pedagogical innovation at universities in Kenya, Ghana and Botswana'. Professor Ianthi Tsimpli, Cambridge 6 Mar: 'Challenges of monolingual and multilingual education: cognition, numeracy and literacy skills in primary school children in India' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
| URL | http://www.education.ox.ac.uk/research/comparative-and-international-education-research/events/ccier... |