Learning and Skills Research Network

The LSRN has been around for more than 20 years now. Under the watchful eye of Andrew Morris, its purpose in the further education landscape has remained steadfast.

"to help people, in going about their professional practice, engage with research and development"

The lifeblood of the network is an army of volunteers across the country. These volunteers are known as convenors and as such, gather educators interested in research and practice at a range of events throughout the year. Whilst some conveners are more active than others in terms of organizsing events, they are a diverse bunch, each with a passion for research engagement that can support and influence both policy and education practice.

As well as networking events, typically at which there are talks and presentations, the network members are able to guide people to sources of support for starting out on or continuing a research journey. You can find out who your nearest contact is HERE and to get yourself on the newsletter email, simply contact [email protected]. I am convenor for the Greater Manchester area and typically host two networking events per year. We also have a Twitter account which is probably the most speedy way to contact someone in the network. Find us @LSRNetwork.

There is an annual conference which seeks to respond to the challenges of the day. At the November 2019 conference, I was asked to deliver a stimulus talk to encourage discussion of “the issues leaders face for which research evidence is needed or will be needed (in further education)”. I wrote my talk into a blog post for the Bedford College Research Network. It is entitled 'Nothing About Us, Without Us' and you can read it HERE.

I shared my perspective of how as a senior leader within a sixth form college I see research evidence being used, or not and why, as well as outlining possible research needs. Of course, if I was doing that talk now, my view of what might be needed in the coming months or years may well be different ... or longer.

If you are an academic, a lecturer, teacher, trainer or from an organisation with an interest in practitioner enquiry, research and scholarship about further education, please do get involved. Critical yet supportive spaces for dialogue are few and far between for the FE sector but we are one of them.