SPIRE Academic wins prestigious funding award

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Posted on 28 May 2012

SPIRE academic, Dr Jonathan Parker was among the successful recipients of two new annual funding award programmes which will support the development of learning and teaching across UK higher education, announced by The Higher Education Academy (HEA) (May, 2012).

The recipients of the 2012 International Scholarship Scheme will undertake specific investigations outside of the UK and deliver specific outcomes for dissemination within the UK sector at the end of the scholarship. Dr Jonathan Parker, who teaches American politics and public policy in SPIRE, has been awarded an HEA International Scholarship.

His research interests focus on education policy, particularly higher education. Jonathan has actively promoted study abroad and internationalisation throughout his career, overseeing and expanding student involvement in programmes for American Studies and Politics at Keele. He led the development of short exchanges at Keele, such as a volunteering experience in Hong Kong and Thailand, as well as a field course on the role of sport in the United States.

His research for the HEA will involve studying the use of short study abroad programmes, such as summer schools and field courses, in the United States. Short experiences expand participation in study abroad, particularly for students who have heavier financial, family, or work commitments. Many American universities get almost 100% of students participating in an international experience, and some even require it. Jonathan will examine how the experience from the United States might help expand study abroad in the UK.

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