CHEF Talk: The heart of research? Exploring the aims, nature and values of education-related research centres with a social justice orientation

Hybrid event:  

Zoom link: https://aarhusuniversity.zoom.us/j/67280902830

Onsite location: 1483/616 (Sky Lounge), DPU Aarhus University, Jens Chr. Skous Vej 4 8000 Aarhus C. 

Register: no later than May 27, at 15:00 CET

Chair: Chair: Dr Søren S.E. Bengtsen, Co-Director of CHEF, Aarhus University, Denmark

Abstract
Research centres are a common phenomenon in higher education institutions globally, but they are also rarely the topic of research. What are they? What do they do? What do they stand for? This presentation is based on the project ‘The Heart of Research: the Aims, Nature and Values of Education Research Centres’, which was hosted by the Doctoral Education and Academia Research Centre (DEAR) at the University of Warwick in 2024. The project explored education-related research centres in the UK which have an explicit social justice orientation, and included a web review of centre webpages and narrative interviews with centre founders. The talk presents the project background, design and findings, and touches on the recommendations that resulted from the project. It also identifies new avenues for thinking about and studying research centres in the future.

Brief bios
Emily F. Henderson is Professor and Director of the Doctoral Education and Academia Research Centre (DEAR), and based in Education Studies (SELCS), University of Warwick. She was Principal Investigator on the ‘Heart of Research’ project. 

James Burford is Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Doctoral Education and Academia Research Centre (DEAR), and based in Education Studies (SELCS), University of Warwick. He was Co-Investigator on the ‘Heart of Research’ project.

Anna Numa Hopkins is a PhD researcher in the Sociology Department, and a member of the DEAR Centre Collective, University of Warwick. She was Co-Investigator on the ‘Heart of Research’ project.