University of Bristol, UK (UB)
The Graduate School of Education (GSoE), University of Bristol is a large research-based education department, widely considered to be one of the leading departments in the UK. Research within the Graduate School of Education is organised around seven research centres which all work within the overarching theme of culture and learning in organisations. Members of the Centre for Learning, Knowing and Interactive Technologies (L-KIT), led by Dr Sally Barnes, would play a leading role in STELLAR, although members of other research centres (for example the Centre for Globalisation, Education and Societies, and the Centre for International and Comparative Studies) would also make contributions. L-KIT is concerned with developing theories and practices which increase understanding of how cultural, cognitive and technological tools shape and support learning and knowing. There are just over 80 academic and 159 research student members of the GSoE, with 32 academics and 30 research students being members of L-KIT. Recent and current University investment of over £7 million is enabling the creation of state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities, which allow the modelling of new approaches to technology enhanced learning.
GCoE works in partnership with both the Department of Computer Science at Bristol University and Futurelab. The GSoE has received full ESRC accreditation for its PhD programme, which attracts high-quality research students from all over the world. There is a strong research student community, enhanced by World University Network (WUN) and EC Alfa funded student exchanges. The GSoE offers a range of Masters degrees, including the MSc in Education, Technology and Society (ETS). The initial teacher education programme (PGCE) trains over 250 secondary teachers annually. The recently completed ESRC project InterActive Education: Teaching and Learning in the Information Age, drew on the strength of both L-KIT and the teacher education programme in order to develop a model for enhancing learning with ICT in schools, with a particular focus on the similarities and differences between knowledge domains.