Jennie Jones

I am a Research Fellow in the Learning and Teaching Hub (formerly the Centre for Learning and Teaching). My role mainly involves leading and conducting research into students' and staff experiences of learning, teaching and assessment in HE. This work helps to contribute knowledge in the field of HE pedagogic research; disseminate good practice; and enhance the student experience at the university and across the sector.  I also teach research methods on the PGCAP and am Chair of the Learning and Teaching Hub research ethics panel.

One of my main research interests is doctoral student journeys. In 2023 I completed my PhD thesis exploring the influences of academic, professional and personal relationships and life events on part-time PhD students' learning journeys in UK universities in changing times, adopting a narrative methodology.

As a researcher in the Learning and Teaching Hub, my work has often focused on first year and international students' experiences and transitions into HE. In this context, currently I am leading a qualiative study into first year students' experiences of Belong at Brighton. Previously, I led/co-led the Evaluation of Impact of the Inclusive Practice Partnerships Scheme; qualitative research at UoB as part of the UK wide What Works project, which adopted an Action Research methodology incorporating Appreciative Inquiry methods. I was also a member of the research team on the HEFCE funded Changing Mindsets project and in 2017/18 led a qualitative study focusing on the influences of Changing Mindsets on students' and staff experiences of learning, teaching and success at the UoB. 

I have acquired external funding for the following research projects, including: UKCISA to conduct research exploring the influences of the international foundation year on first year international undergraduates' experiences in UK universities; HEDG to conduct research into Educational Development in the United Kingdom; the HEA to produce a research synthesis relating to on-line support for academic writing in HE; and BAICE to convene a symposium to facilitate local cross-sector networking and discusssion among international doctoral students and supervisors. 

I am a member of the Centre of Resilience for Social Justice, the Narrative and Biographical Methodologies in Education Research and Enterprise Group and am a member of the Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee in the School of Education.

My research interests relate to student experiences and journeys in higher education; and qualitative, narrative, and  mixed methods research. My recent work adopting narrative methods include my PhD, ‘Part-time PhD students' learning journeys in UK universities in changing times: exploring the influences of academic, professional and personal relationships and life events’ and ‘Staff and student perceptions and experiences of the Changing Mindsets intervention at the University of Brighton: Influences on student and staff learning and teaching, mindset development, engagement, confidence and success.’ In  these projects emerging themes relate to students’ development of educational and social capital; and belonging, engagement, and confidence throughout their journeys. I completed my PhD in 2023; and wrote an article which was published in Innovations in Education International in 2022, ‘Changing mindsets and becoming gritty: mature undergraduate students’ experiences of life and learning in a post 1992 UK university and beyond.’ 

I have recently led or co-led qualitative studies that are part of University institutional research and impact evaluation projects including What Works? Student Retention and Success; Changing Mindsets; the Evaluation of Impact of the Inclusive Practice Partnerships Scheme; and currently Belong at Brighton. These studies have often focused on first year undergraduate students' experiences and transitions into HE. 

My supervisory interests include a wide variety of topics in higher education pedagogies. My main interests are in doctoral learning and teaching, postgraduate and undergraduate student journeys and transitions, and interactions of life and learning in student journeys and experiences. My interests also include research into lecturers' experiences of professional development, and changing higher education contexts. I am interested in supervising research that adopts qualitative  methodologies.