Education Studies News and Events
Celebrating Success: Warwick alumna recognised in King’s Birthday Honours
We’re incredibly proud to celebrate an outstanding member of our SELCS alumni community, Sue Sentance (Education Studies) following her recognition in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours.
This is a wonderful achievement and a testament to the impact Sue has made through her work and dedication. Being recognised in this way highlights her exceptional contribution and the difference she continues to make.
Sue's success is an inspiration to our students, alumni, staff, and wider SELCS community. Huge congratulations from everyone in SELCS!
Read more about the Warwick alumni and honorary graduates from a range of fields, who have been recognised in the recent Kings Birthday Honours and Garter Day here.
International recognition of the University’s support for Ukraine
We’re proud to announce that the University of Warwick has been honoured with the Order of St Panteleimon’s Award for Professionalism and Mercy, recognising our community’s “unwavering solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the defence of freedom and human dignity.”
Professor Gwen van der Velden (Education Studies) accepted the award on the University’s behalf, alongside Dr Dmytro Chumachenko (Institute of Advanced Study), at a ceremony held at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile in London.
As a University of Sanctuary, Warwick remains committed to supporting those academics and students affected by conflict and displacement . We are honoured to receive this recognition, and we continue to stand with Ukraine.
Read more here international-recognition-of
Education Studies alumni recognised in King’s New Year Honours 2026
The Department of Education Studies is delighted to celebrate the achievements of two of our alumni who have been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours 2026 for their exceptional contributions to education and public service.
Professor Jacquelyn Bridget Dunne, who completed her MA in Education and Industry with the former Institute of Education, has been awarded an MBE for services to Higher Education. Now Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham Newman University, Professor Dunne has built a distinguished career championing access, opportunity, and innovation in the sector.
Ian Todd, a graduate of the PG Diploma in Educational Assessment, has been awarded an OBE for Parliamentary and Public Service. As Chief Secretary and Head of the Public Service for the St Helena Government, he has played a central role in public sector leadership and governance.
We are immensely proud to see that two of our education alumni have had their contributions recognised nationally. Their honours highlight the impact of education professionals whose careers have been shaped, in part, by their time at Warwick.
We warmly congratulate Professor Dunne and Ian Todd on their achievements.
More details are available here: https://warwick.ac.uk/alumni/alumni-news/news/new_years_honours_2026/
Warwick Researchers Shine at BERA Conference 2025
We’re proud to share that Dr Katie Compton and Dr Tom Perry have both received Best Presentation Awards at the prestigious BERA Conference 2025, recognised by Special Interest Groups (SIGs) for their outstanding contributions to educational research.
Dr Katie Compton was honoured for her presentation: “Improving Prosocial Behaviour in the Primary Classroom Through a School-Based Mindfulness Programme”
Dr Tom Perry, alongside collaborators Clara Jorgenson and Laurence Lessard-Phillips from the University of Birmingham, received the award for:
“Pupil School Mobility – preliminary findings from a mixed-methods study into mobility types, pathways and implications for education”
These awards highlight the impactful and innovative work being carried out by Warwick academics in shaping the future of education.
Learn more about the awards: BERA SIG Best Presentation Awards 2025Link opens in a new window
Dr. Abdullah Sahin Honoured with Research Excellence Award at International Conference
Dr. Abdullah Sahin, from the Department of Education Studies, delivered a keynote paper titled “How to Facilitate Research-Informed Transformative Change within the Pedagogical Culture of Modern Islamic Schools? A Perspective from Warwick” at the 4th International Conference of the Global Association of Islamic Schools (GAIS), held in Colombo, Sri Lanka (4–8 October 2025).
The event brought together around 400 delegates from 28 countries to explore innovation and collaboration in faith-based education. During the conference, Dr. Sahin was presented with GAIS’s Research Excellence Award, recognising his publications for their “theoretical creativity and empirical rigour in advancing the study of faith-ethos schooling in the modern world.”
This achievement highlights the international impact of Dr. Sahin’s research and the Department’s commitment to advancing educational practice through scholarly excellence.