Dr Deborah Cooper

Professional biography

The focus of my work is developing teachers, leaders and students for equity, access and quality education.  I am a writer and teacher trainer with a background  in  learning design  and creative practice undertaking global research.

As a Senior Lecturer in International Education, I am work on teaching teams for the  Early Years progamme and Masters in Education and Education Doctorate programme. I am a  Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

I completed  my doctorate  from the Open University, UK and masters from Stanford University, USA. 

Research interests

Recent externally funded international research projects include:- 

As academic lead for the Open University with PLAN International supporting women in rural areas of Sierra Leone into a pathway to teaching for gender equity. . It started with a  model of learniing assitants in Malawi and has developed through the Girls access tp Education (GATE)  and Teacher Training for Girls Inclusive Education (TTIGE) with over 900 young women now qualified as teachers for their communities. 

As  co-investigator exploring how school leaders in Asia develop as agents of change. GPE-KIX  Networked Improvement Communities for School Leaders towards Equity and Inclusion, in Afghanistan, Nepal and Pakistan .

Teaching interests

My teaching  is centered on professional development and change.  

I have been module chair on Educational Leadership & Management modules.on the Masters programme and co chair of Early Years module, producing new materials

I have written free open education resources  on ethics, inclusion and gender for global audiences including TESSA and TESS-India.

Becoming an Ethical Researcher. https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/becoming-ethical-researcher/content-section-overview-0?active-tab=description-tab[D1] 

I have previoulsy taught  Post Graduate Certificate in Education and International and Comparative Education.

My inter-disciplinary creative practice includes leading oral storytelling and creative writing methods. 

• Forthcoming chapter : on the spoken word with an elderly community group: You can't catch me with a nice cup of tea  
• Workshop on presentation  skills through TED and storytelling: Speak Like a Storyteller not a Robot.