Research and Scholarship Development
The Research and Scholarship Development group provides support, guidance and opportunity to those wishing to carry out research and scholarship activities commensurate with the broader aims of ALDinHE. Members support the dissemination of LD research, review research funding bids, act as a guide for members’ research projects and monitor external opportunities for funding relevant to the LD community.
If you are interested in joing the research and scholarship group, please email admin@aldinhe.ac.uk, an expression of interest (approx 100 words) on your suitability for the role and your reason why you’d like to be involved in this group.
Alexander Cuthbert

I have worked in inclusive learning contexts since 1994, initially in primary and secondary school settings, before entering higher education in 2008 working with neurodivergent and disabled learners at the University of Glasgow. In 2012, I was involved with creation of a study skills service at the University of Strathclyde (now Learner Development Services), delivering induction and widening participation activities, workshops, 1-2-1 appointments, and creating online resources. Â Working collaboratively with academic and university services partners, I also facilitate the development of specific academic literacies. I have been a member of the ALDinHE Research and Development Working Group since 2016.
Bernard Aidoo

Member of the Professional Recognition Working Group
Member of the Research and Scholarship Working Group
I am an Academic Mentor for Psychology at London Metropolitan University.
My role entails supporting students achieve their personal, academic and career goals through 1-1 and team coaching. My background is in Positive Psychology, Coaching and Teaching & Learning. I am keen to apply these areas in supporting students to achieve positive academic outcomes.
Ed Bickle

Steering Group Member
I have been a lecturer in Learning Development at Bournemouth University since 2017, working within a small academic team to provide faculty level support to students. I am co-lead of the ALDinHE research community of practice and a member of the research and scholarship working group.
I also have extensive experience of research within the field of widening participation and my PhD examined how young people from widening participation backgrounds formulate their aspirations through everyday experiences.
I am a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Certified Practitioner of LD (CeP).
Finley Lawson

Finley is the Education Development Lead at Canterbury Christ Church University. Combining research and outreach experience, his work focuses on an evidence-led approach to innovative engagement and CPD strategies, and researching HE student access and success. Prior to this Finley was a Lead Research Fellow at the LASAR educational Research Centre. He passed his PhD viva in March 2023, and worked in a collaboration with the schools’ and college engagement team and Kent UniConnect Hub (KMPF) to develop award winning research-engaged widening participation practice. He has experience of developing strong research partnerships with stakeholders and undertaking desk and field-based research.
Ian Johnson

Steering Group Member
Chair of the Research and Scholarship Development Group
Ian has been active in ALDinHE since 2015 and a member of the peer mentoring working group since Spring 2020. He set up ALDinHE’s research community of practice at the same time, as the first CoP under the peer mentoring group umbrella, and continues to run it. The CoP provides informal peer support, critical friendship etc for research-active learning developers, and has co-authored a journal article, book chapter and several conference presentations around collaboration between learning developers. Ian is in the late stages of a professional doctorate on the framing and value of Learning Development work and also has research interests in feedback on student work and the teaching of reflective writing practices.
Jonathan Denham

Shaun Bremner-Hart

Shaun Bremner-Hart is a lecturer in Molecular Biosciences at the University of Glasgow. He has experience teaching and conducting scholarship research in the UK and at international institutes. Shaun is interested in the development of inclusive teaching material and decolonising the curricula in the context of molecular biology. He is a recent addition to the Research and Scholarship working group, joining in 2023.
Silvina Bishopp-Martin

Silvina has been a Learning Developer at Canterbury Christ Church University since 2012. During her time at CCCU she has worked on the development of online learning materials, peer-mentoring schemes and embedding academic literacies in academic programmes. She has an MA in TESOL (EAP), has achieved CeLP status and is an Advanced HE Fellow. She has been a member of ALDinHE Research, Scholarship and Development Working Group since 2016.
Steve Rooney

Steve Rooney is a Learning Developer at Aston University. He works with students and staff across all programmes, but with a particular responsibility for supporting learning in Health and Life Sciences disciplines. He continues to enjoy a long-standing, active involvement with the Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE).
Steve White

Research and Scholarship Development Working Group Member
Steering Group Member
Steve works in a hybrid educational developer / learning developer role in Southampton University Business School and has previously worked at Arts University Bournemouth in a similar role. He supports various forms of peer learning, transition and student representative schemes, whilst attempting to influence curriculum development to include consideration for LD. He is interested in exploring third space work in HE for learning developers, the development of student and staff digital literacy, and teaching and learning critical thinking.