Research on senior leadership in higher education systems is urgently needed, particularly in the context of system-wide transformations. This study focuses on a critical juncture in Ireland, during which Institutes of Technology (IoTs) collaborated to undergo 'redesignation' as Technological Universities (TUs). Based on interviews with the…

Due to the barriers and trauma that many Black women experience during their educational journey, they are among the most underrepresented groups in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pipeline (Alfred et al., 2019; Collins et al., 2020; Fouad et al., 2017). Some have argued that starting early with advancing STEM learning…

Background: Integration of digital tools and resources in STEM instruction has garnered significant attention due to its high potential. Digital professional development is identified as a pivotal factor for equipping teachers with necessary digital skills to effectively orchestrate digital resources. Notably, the role of professional learning…

Teacher design teams (TDTs) are professional learning communities in which teachers collaborate to (re)design innovative educational materials. When appropriately supported, TDT work stimulates the explication and use of pedagogical content knowledge, thus providing important opportunities for teachers to learn from one another. However, TDT…

This research advances notions about how interactive learning environments that intentionally shape learners' identities can empower students and give them agency. Our work draws on research on teacher noticing, extends it to the community level, and orients it towards identity. We provide an instrumental case study approach that examines…

Although there has been much research on second language learning, minimal literature reports how language learners learn multiple foreign languages through immersion. Further, a majority of these previous studies have been conducted using exclusively quantitative methods. In response to these empirical and methodological gaps, the current study…

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine dilemmas in a district-university partnership that used network improvement communities (NIC) as a levers for systems change after COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach: We draw on observations and in-depth, semi-structured interviews to understand the benefits and limitations of using network…

Facilitated networking, integrated into professional development programs, allows faculty participants to foster opportunities for engagement while strengthening collaborative relationships that help to humanize digital learning. This article considers the networking that is central to a professional development program that credentials faculty at…

Developing student employability is a key strategy within institutions of higher education, particularly for students in creative industries where labour market supply has outpaced employer demand. Existing literature shows that activities that promote communities of practice offer clear employability benefits for students. However, such…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, which began to affect Canadian universities and colleges in March 2020, educators were asked to make a sudden transition, or swerve, to teaching remotely. Subsequently, these same teachers made the shift to teaching remotely longer term, through the fall and winter of 2020-21; the pandemic continued to affect higher…

During April 3-6, 2023 the University of Warwick hosted the 3rd World Congress on Undergraduate Research (WorldCUR) alongside the British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR), combining this international event with a national conference for the first time. The events brought together undergraduate researchers from around the world to…

Academic development usually focuses on individuals, with activities bounded by institutional strategy. There is a lack of research exploring the emergence of cross-institutional communities of practice and their ability to offer opportunities for professional collaboration, particularly for underrepresented or marginalised groups. Our study…

This study aimed to examine the effect of participation in teacher mentoring programs and professional learning community (PLC) activities on a teacher's sense of professional self-efficacy. Participants in the study evaluated mentoring programs and PLC activities and the influence of each on their sense of professional self-efficacy. An…

This article describes a study designed to investigate the utility, motivations, and outcomes of participating in faculty writing groups before and during a university shutdown and forced quarantining due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The study aimed to determine whether faculty writing group participation contributed to improved productivity…

While massive open online courses (MOOCs) promise to democratise access to education, the literature reveals a nuanced understanding of engagement in these settings, especially in resource-constrained environments. Blended MOOCs combine MOOCs and physical classroom settings of contents and instructions. This study extends this discourse by…