Dr Alison Glover

Professional biography

Alison is a researcher for the Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Programme in Wales. She supports all aspects of research activity across the programme. Alison began her career working in outdoor education and following the completion of her PGCE in Geography and Physical Education she taught in schools in the UK and overseas. While working overseas she completed her Master’s degree in Environmental Education by distance learning. Following the completion of her doctorate at the University of South Wales she contributed to the teaching and assessment for a variety of Education courses, completed research projects and undertook outreach work with primary and secondary schools. Before joining The Open University in 2020 Alison worked for Arad Research undertaking research projects for clients that included local authorities, the Welsh Government and third sector organisations.

Research interests

Alison’s doctorate examined the policy into practice of Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship for the Welsh higher education sector. This resulted in the creation of a process management tool to support embedding sustainability into higher education.

She has completed a wide range of research studies on topics such as aspects of the current Welsh education reform, the Childcare Offer and gender equality in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics for the Welsh Government; the impact of Modern Foreign Languages in schools for the British Council Wales, evaluations for Creative Skillset and the British Film Institute, and Oxfam Cymru’s Sanctuary in Wales project. Her current research interests focus on Initial Teacher Education and include mentoring, partnership working and the use of video technology in the classroom. Alison also has a particular interest in embedding Education for Sustainable Development in the curriculum.

Teaching interests

Alison has experience of delivering and assessing Undergraduate and Postgraduate modules on a variety of topics such as research methods, teaching and learning, inclusive practice, leading organisational change, and Education for Sustainable Development for BA Early Years Education, BA Primary Studies, and MA Education degrees.

External collaborations

Alison works with partner school colleagues in Wales to support research activity, engaging practioners in research and publication. She also contributes to Collaborative Research Network activity and projects with other teacher education providers across Wales. She has worked with independent researchers to engage with schools to evaluate the curriculum and assessment reform in Wales.

She is a member of RATED (Research-informed Approaches to Tackling Educational Disadvantage), a consortium of educators working together to reduce educational inequalities and disadvantage using evidence-based approaches. She has been a steering group member of TEESNet (Teacher Education for Equity and Sustainability Network) since 2015. Alison is also an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.