Jennie Jones

I joined the Centre for Learning and Teaching, now the Learning and Teaching Hub, at the University as a Research Officer in 2008 and became a Research Fellow in 2013. My role mainly involves leading and conducting research into the experiences and percpetions of students and staff in HE relating to different aspects of learning, teaching and assessment. 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 a member of the Learning and Teaching Hub research ethics panel. Previously, I was a teacher of modern languages in secondary education. My qualifications include an MA in Marketing and an MA in Language, the Arts and Education. I am currently studying for a PhD 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 the experiences of first year and international students in relation to student engagement, retention and success. In this context, I co-led 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. Currently I am co-leading the Evaluation of the impact of the Inclusive Practice Partnerships Scheme at the University, focusing on Decolonising the Curriculum on students' experiences and achievement. 

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

My research interests in these contexts relate to exploring varied aspects of undergraduate and post-graduate student learning journeys adopting narrative research methods. My recent and ongoing 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 both these projects emerging themes relate to students’ development of resilience and grit throughout their journeys. I am currently writing up my thesis and also developing an article entitled, ‘Changing mindsets and becoming gritty: mature undergraduate students’ experiences of life and learning in a post 1992 UK university and beyond.’