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Welcome to SCoLPP

Staffordshire Centre of Learning and Pedagogic Practice
Contact the team

SCoLPP is a research centre with a difference, immersed uniquely in developing evidence-informed pedagogic practice which aims to connect learning and teaching to enhanced social mobility.

We are modelled on core principles of effectiveness and levels of evidence, evaluation, and reach and we uphold What Works principles in learning and teaching for all, as we know that everyone can have a part to play in positively enhancing student outcomes.

We believe this makes us an emerging thought-leader in the HE sector.

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Our impact

  • Awarded 9 funded projects 
    We have brought in c£200k, working with QAA (UK & Scotland), TASO, Advance HE, OfS, The British Council. This work has made tangible differences to curriculum development, everyday practice and in how colleagues across the Sector now consider evaluating outcomes and effectiveness. 
  • Widened internal and external engagement
    SCoLPP Innovators presentations and outputs including peer-reviewed invitations for 4 of our innovation projects to present at ISoTL23, alongside producing several articles in peer-reviewed sources. SCoLPP Team members have done 6 international keynotes, a plethora of presentations in the Sector, written several articles for peer-reviewed journals, WonkHE and Times HE Campus, been invited to contribute 7 book chapters.We have also been invited as paid experts to evaluate HE effectiveness by several international governments in the HE Sector. 
  • Developed a great team with strong professional standing
    We continually contribute to Sector developments in learning and teaching. We have representation and reach in several thought-leading areas, including: National Teaching Fellowship and Principal Fellows engagement; Vice Chairing of NEONs Supporting access, success and progression for vocational learners; active membership of TASO Sector Network and Evaluation Collective; Board Directorship of National Teaching Repository; Co-chairing of the Aspiring PFHEA Network (Advance HE); JISC Student Experience Expert group; UCISA Digital Education Group.

What we do

Our Team has expertise and skills to support your effective evaluation design from strategic to operational levels. We have a track-record of skills and expertise to support you to introduce a step-change in pedagogic capacity-building linked to effectiveness.  We're equipped with the expertise and skills to support enhancing your pedagogic effectiveness and innovation at all levels. 

Offer evaluation expertise across a range of real world HE domains

Thought-leading on researching and applying innovative pedagogies for effectiveness

  • Undertaking funded-work to examine the effectiveness of Phenomenon-Based Learning (PhBL) as the future-facing pedagogy for delivering Sustainable Development Goals and educational gain 

  • Evidencing possible Future Student Experiences, by producing commissioned evidence-informed scenarios for 2030 and beyond. 

  • Our funded Beyond the Classroom project considers the importance of Third-Space roles now, future trajectory, and resource-development needed for success.    

A torch-bearer for inclusive pedagogic development of staff

  • We fund internal SCoLPP Innovator Awards, available to all staff regardless of role-type, linked to evaluating effectiveness, scale and impact of learning.   

  • We support PhD inquiry framed within What Works principles. Presently we support fully-funded doctorates linked to evidencing intangible assets, effective use of learning analytics to support student outcomes, using play in digital spaces.  

  • We support writing retreats, produce free online So, What’s the Learning? webinars across the sector, offer bid-writing development linked to scholarship of learning and teaching. 

Where are we going in the next 5 years?

In the next 3-5 years, SCoLPP will be at the forefront of:

Developing an effective Sector-wide infrastructure

Encourage diverse inter and trans-disciplinary approaches in HE, building on our expertise, emerging track record and knowledge of phenomenon-Based Learning (PhBL)

Leading on pedagogic evaluation research

that values and examines the diversity of our student demographic and the effectiveness of transformative experiences

Using phenomena to provide critical research

for developing global-ready graduates to work collaboratively in international contexts in tackling real world global challenges

Latest news and events

Dr Arinola Adefila is currently employing her evaluation expertise to the Student Mobility programme in Finland using Cultural Mapping to examine how the Collaborative Online International Learning programme has supported learning. 

Dr Sally Andrews delivers the findings from the TASO commissioned research into initiatives to tackle the ethnicity awarding gap on Monday 12 June 2023 2-3.30pm, if you are interested in attending, please register for this event online.

3 SCoLPP colleagues will be presenting at the forthcoming International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Utrecht. Gareth Barratt will be sharing his work on student partnerships and coaching. Dr Kate Cuthbert and Sue Lee will be sharing their phenomenon-based learning project outcomes. 

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SCoLPP International Pedagogic Conference

Save the date!

20-23 November 2024 will see our first SCoLPP International Pedagogic Conference.

It’s Scholarly but it’s Real: Using Phenomenon Based Learning to future-proof effective learning in Higher Education 

Register your interest

Contact the team

For more information on research and consultancy to support your organisation please get in touch

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021