Our research - Centre for Lifelong Learning

The Chicago School of Sociology and the origins of Career Studies

What do we mean by career? This article by Dr Phil McCash explores the background to the study of career in the pioneering Chicago School of Sociology. These origins, he argues, give the field a coherent basis for research and practice.
Supporting early learning through rhymes and stories

Dr Sarah Cousins and Hilary Minns explore the value of sharing rhymes and stories with very young children. They present some of the research underpinning this approach and offer students and teachers starting points for developing such a pedagogy.
Exploring the value of email and telephone careers guidance

Lynne Campbell (previously Lynne Johnson) worked as part of a small HECSU funded research team at The Open University to compare the efficacy of e-guidance and telephone career support for students' career learning, development and progression.
Rethinking the Future of Work

Dr Phil McCash, co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Career Development, discusses the biggest obstacles in the career development field and how organisations can enhance employees’ careers.
A Calling to Sustainable Career Development

Gill Frigerio, with Danish co-author Miriam Dimsits, considers how career development practitioners work with people who feel a sense of calling to commit themselves to global sustainability in their careers.
The Urban Myth of the 'Why...' Question. Can Coaches Ask 'why...?"

Ian Day explores the 'myth' that coaches can not ask the 'why...?' questions, and asks why this is?
Career Mentoring and Social Difference in HE

Dr Tania Lyden considers whether social groups perceive similar gains from career mentoring in HE and how social difference influences career mentoring interactions.
The Impact of ‘Real English in Action’ on Social/Community Integration

This research project from Dr Nalita James explored learners' experiences of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and their perceptions of how learning the English language has supported their integration and community cohesion in Leicester.

Research at the Centre for Lifelong Learning

The Centre for Lifelong Learning (CLL) supports research and scholarship related to the broad field of lifelong learning. We interpret learning as taking place throughout our lives from birth through childhood and adulthood to the end of life. It includes lifewide learning across our many different social roles and spaces undergirded by appropriate social supports. Learning is also lifedeep and extends to learning in the particular socio-cultural contexts that give rise to our distinctive values, beliefs, and identities.

We welcome a very wide range of life experience in CLL and support creative and well-crafted research and scholarship projects with potential for individual, social, and/or cultural transformation.

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Research Themes

Our research and scholarship are organised in terms of four interconnected themes: concepts; people-focused professions; wellbeing and identity; participation and collaboration. We seek to enthuse staff, students, and the wider community with this vision.

Current staff research

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Current PhD student research

See our current PhD students and their research projects.

See if you are eligible for a CLL PhD scholarship to cover your tuition fee in researching with us.

Featured Research

Read more featured research from our staff and explore our research projects further.

A group of three multicultural young professionals witting on the same table with two laptops in front

The Career Development Profession

Dr John Gough

This research project from Dr Nalita James explored learners' experiences of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and their perceptions of how learning the English language has supported their integration and community cohesion in Leicester.

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Discover more about research in the Centre for Lifelong Learning.

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