Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education, Quality and Standards)

Biography and research interests

Will began his career in further education - as a lecturer in philosophy and sociology. After completing his PhD, he taught on the PGCE for lecturers in further and higher education. More recently, he developed and led Education Studies undergraduate provision. Before joining the University of Warwick, Will was seconded to the Higher Education Academy as Discipline Lead for Education – a role that involved supporting the enhancement of learning and teaching in HE education provision across the UK.

Will’s research interests include post-16 learning identities, further education transitions, Finnish higher education and the relationships between learning and contemporary culture. He also has long-standing interests in alternative models of education and philosophy of education. His recent funded projects have focused on assessment and feedback and democratic education. He has developed a model of collaborative enquiry – with undergraduate students working alongside academic staff. This is a model he is utilising at present on ‘Employability in Education Studies’ – a Teaching Development Grant research project in collaboration with students and colleagues at three other universities.

Will is currently writing his sixth education book - 'Reinventing Education: Visions for today and tomorrow' - to be published by Routledge later this year.

Will is a National Teaching Fellow and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

PhD Supervision
Potential PhD candidates are welcome to contact him regarding research proposals related to one or more of the following topics:

• Post-16 learning identities
• Further education transitions
• Finnish higher education
• Relationships between learning and contemporary culture
• Alternative models of education
• Philosophy of education
• Assessment and feedback
• Democratic education

Selected Publications

McDonnell, J. & Curtis, W. (2014) 'Making space for democracy through assessment and feedback in higher education: thoughts from an action research project in education studies'. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, January 2014

Curtis, W., Murphy, M. & Shields, S. (2013) Research and education. Abingdon: Routledge

Curtis, W. (2013) ’Learning together through student-lecturer collaborative enquiry’ in Bilham, T. (ed.) For the love of learning. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan

Curtis, W., Ward, S., Sharp, J. & Hankin, L. (ed) (2013) Education Studies: An issues based approach (third edition). Exeter: Learning Matters

Curtis, W. (2013) 'Alternatives to mainstream schooling' in Curtis, W., Ward, S., Sharp, J. & Hankin, L. (ed) (2013) Education Studies: An issues based approach (third edition). Exeter: Learning Matters
Curtis, W., Murphy, M. & Shields, S. (2013) Research and education. Abingdon: Routledge

Murphy, M. & Curtis, W. (2013) ‘The micro-politics of micro-management: exploring the role of programme leader in English universities’. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, Volume 35 (1), January 2013

Curtis, W., Goodson, A., McDonnell, J., Shields, S. & Wyness, R. (2012) ‘Learning together and expanding horizons: reflections on a student-lecturer collaborative enquiry’. Enhancing Learning and Teaching in the Social Sciences, Volume 4 (1), July 2012

Curtis, W., McDonnell, J & McGinty, S. (2012) 'Assessment reassessed: a student and lecturer collaborative enquiry'. ESCalate. (Access full report at http://escalate.ac.uk/8141)

Curtis, W. & McDonnell, J. (2012) 'Creating spaces for democracy in higher education: assessment and feedback strategies' Gateway papers: A journal of pedagogic research in higher education, Volume 2, January 2012.

Dufour, B. & Curtis, W. (ed.) (2011) Studying education: An introduction to the key disciplines in Education Studies. Maidenhead: Open University Press

Curtis, W. (2011) ‘The philosophy of education’ in Dufour, B. & Curtis, W. (ed.) (2011) Studying education: An introduction to the key disciplines in Education Studies. Maidenhead: Open University Press

Curtis, W. (2010) ‘Responding to shifting landscapes: educational authority and characters of lectureship’, Educational futures, 2 (3), August 2010

Curtis, W. & Pettigrew, A. (2010) Education studies reflective reader. Exeter: Learning Matters

Curtis, W. & Pettigrew, A. (2009) Learning in contemporary culture. Exeter: Learning Matters

Curtis, W. (2008) ‘Learning identities and characters of studentships: an alternative to learning styles’, Educational futures. 1(2), December 2008