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Mark Connolly

Dr Mark Connolly

Senior Lecturer

School of Social Sciences

Email
ConnollyM4@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 29208 75097
Campuses
Glamorgan Building, Room Room 2.26, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WA
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

I am a Senior Lecturer in education in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University where I studied for my PhD. This was an interdisciplinary study of culture, creativity and education in urban cultural regeneration. While I retain an interest in cultural policy and creativity, the main focus of my research and teaching relates education and educational policy. My research focuses on range of educational projects relating to: creativity; outdoor and Forest School learning; routes into teaching; teacher education; professional leadership; children's rights; children's play. I have been the Welsh representative on the council of the British Education Research Association and have been editor of the British Educational Research Journal.

Publication

2023

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2013

2010

2009

2008

2007

Articles

Book sections

Monographs

Thesis

Research

I have a diverse range of research interests in the area of education. My doctoral study related to the role of culture, creativity and learning in culture led urban regeneration projects. While I retain an interest in cultural policy my recent research interests relate education. I have published in areas such as: motivations for adult learning; culture-led regeneration;outdoor education and risk perception; children's rights; children's play; forest school education; teacher recruitment; teacher professionalism; school leadership. 

Teaching

I teach on various education-related programmes at undergraduate, masters and doctoral level. The two undergraduate modules I am most closely involved in are first year introductory module An Introduction to Education and Solving Educational Problems. At Masters' level I teach across a range of modules relating to education and childhood.  At doctoral level I am module convenor for the Changing Modes of Professionalism module which is the introductory module in our professional doctorate programme.

Biography

Senior Lecturer in Education, 08/2013 to present 

Cardiff University - Cardiff, Wales  

 September 2015- present Director of Undergraduate Studies for the School of Social Sciences. 

  • Module convenor for foundational module in Professional Doctorate 
  • Chair of Undergraduate Board of Studies 
  • Chair of Extenuating Circumstances Committee 
  • January 2014- Sept 2015: Programme Coordinator for Year Two and assessment lead for the Masters in Educational Practice.  
  • July 2013- Jan 2014: Assessment Coordinator for the Masters in Educational Practice. 

 Lecturer in Educational Studies, 09/2008 to 08/2013 

Cardiff Metropolitan University - Cardiff, Wales 

 

Researcher/academic tutor, 08/2007 to 09/2008 

 Cardiff University - Cardiff, Wales 

 I worked as a tutor on undergraduate and masters modules and worked as a researcher on 

projects sponsored by the Scottish Executive and the National Institute for Adult and 

Community Education. 

 FE Lecturer (PT) Coleg Glan Hafren Cardiff 2003-2005 

Lecturer in EFL and TESOL 

Doctoral student, 08/2003 to 12/2006 

Cardiff University - Cardiff, Wales 

From 2003-2006 I studied for my doctoral thesis on a fellowship provided by the Economic and Social Research Council. 

 Researcher/writer, 01/1999 to 09/2003 

Rough Guides - London, England  

Researcher and writer for the Rough Guide travel company working on editions on Dublin, Ireland and Europe. 

 Headteacher, 01/1996 to 12/2001 

Trinity Academy - Tokyo, Japan  

In this role I was the headteacher of a small English language school in Tokyo Japan. 

 Teacher English/History, 09/1994 to 07/1995 

St. Patrick's Secondary School - Ballymena, N.Ireland  

I taught English and History in a large secondary school in N.Ireland. 

Professional memberships

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy;

Member of the British Educational Research Association

Academic positions

Senior Lecturer in Education, 08/2013 to present 

Cardiff University - Cardiff, Wales  

 September 2015- present Director of Undergraduate Studies for the School of Social Sciences. 

  • Module convenor for foundational module in Professional Doctorate 
  • Chair of Undergraduate Board of Studies 
  • Chair of Extenuating Circumstances Committee 
  • January 2014- Sept 2015: Programme Coordinator for Year Two and assessment lead for the Masters in Educational Practice.  
  • July 2013- Jan 2014: Assessment Coordinator for the Masters in Educational Practice. 

 Lecturer in Educational Studies, 09/2008 to 08/2013 

Cardiff Metropolitan University - Cardiff, Wales 

 

Researcher/academic tutor, 08/2007 to 09/2008 

 Cardiff University - Cardiff, Wales 

 I worked as a tutor on undergraduate and masters modules and worked as a researcher on 

projects sponsored by the Scottish Executive and the National Institute for Adult and 

Community Education. 

 FE Lecturer (PT) Coleg Glan Hafren Cardiff 2003-2005 

Lecturer in EFL and TESOL 

Doctoral student, 08/2003 to 12/2006 

Cardiff University - Cardiff, Wales 

From 2003-2006 I studied for my doctoral thesis on a fellowship provided by the Economic and Social Research Council.

Committees and reviewing

Welsh Representative on Council of British Educational Research Association

Editor British Educational Research Journal

Supervisions

Educational policy

Professional practice

Outdoor learning

Home/school relationships

Creativity

Further and Higher Education

Current students:

Ross Goldstone (50%) The Relationship Between Social Class And Participation And Experiences In Further Education

Imran Mohammed (50%) The Exploration Of The Evolving Practice Educator Role In Wales

Verena Stein (50%) Social And Pedagogical Aspects Of Mindfulness Training, A Discourse Analysis

Nikki Jones (50%) A Longitudinal Evaluation Of The Foundation Phase: Ten Years Of Curriculum Design And Implementation

Gill Ellis (50%) Professional Learning within the National Academy of Educational Leadership.

Thomas Dunne (50%) School music provision in Wales

Andrea Beetles (50%): An Examination Of The Effects Of Tef On Professional Identity And Professional Agency

Adam Pierce (50%): The Relationship Between The Welsh Language And Higher Education Participation

Yvonne Coffey (50%) Foundation Degrees: Are They True To Their New Labour Roots And What Is The Effectiveness Of Part Time Study In Relation To Full Time Routes?

Maymouna Mohammed Rashid Al-Kalbaniya: Parental Involvement In Children's Education

Julia Holloway (50%) Qualitative Study Of The Perspectives Of All Stakeholders In New Itt In Wales With Increased Emphasis On Teacher Research

Katie Spendiff:  Frontline Practitioners’ Enactment Of The Rights Of Children And Young Persons (Wales) Measure (2011)