Researching Higher Education SIG
About the Researching Higher Education SIG
The Researching Higher Education SIG aims to create a space for AHEP members to focus on professional development related to conducting or engaging with research.
This SIG is aimed at AHEP members who:
– are currently exploring their professional practice through formal education programmes (undergaduate degrees, postgraduate certificates, postgraduate diplomas, masters, doctorates)
– are graduates of education programmes where you explored your professional practice
– are carrying out research in their day-to-day work (running surveys, focus groups, analysis data etc)
– are interested in learning more about research-informed practice in higher education professional services, research skills, or further study
What can you expect from the Researching Higher Education SIG?
The SIG aims to facilitate connections within AHEP to develop, support and encourage research that will benefit the profession, and to showcase research about higher education professionals.
It will do this through a mixture of online forums, online events, and sessions at the AHEP Annual Conference. Events will be a mixture of skills-based development (e.g. how to peer review, how to review the literature, writing for publication), informal networking (e.g. reading groups, coffee morning), research webinars sharing research findings, and exploring what it is to be a researching higher education professional
To access more information and become a member of this SIG, sign into your AHEP account. Not an AHEP member? Join now!
Meet the Coordinators
Charlotte Verney, Researching Higher Education SIG Lead Coordinator
Head of Assessment
University of Bristol
Dr Charlotte Verney has worked in UK higher education professional services since 2006, holding positions at multiple universities. Her professional area of work is student administration, policy and systems. Charlotte has been active in research since 2009, completing a masters in international higher education and a professional doctorate in education. She has published in peer-reviewed journals and is Joint Editor of Perspectives: policy and practice in higher education. She has received several small-grants to carry out research projects related to professional services in higher education, and is an advocate for supporting newer researchers in the higher education space.
Jonathan Dempsey, Researching Higher Education SIG Deputy Coordinator
Independent Consultant
Jonathan has worked in HE for nearly 20 years across a variety of areas, from student support to registry, volunteering to accommodation managing. Using these generalist skills he has ventured into consultancy work most recently working with Buckinghamshire New University reviewing their student policies such as safeguarding and Prevent. Jonathan is passionate about the staff and student experience focussing on social justice and equity, This work is carried on not only in his professional life but also academic as he pursues a professional doctorate at the University of Bath in Higher Education Management where his focus is on the impact of extenuating circumstances on student outcomes.