PhD Study : Education policy in active conflict

Apply and key information  

Summary

Creativity and Culture, Healthy Communities, Sustainability and Social Renewal

The studentship will contribute to UU’s 5&50 of encouraging social renewal through directly influencing peace and conflict in the most controversial ethno-political policy area of a conflict society: education. An understanding of teacher behaviour will lead to an increase in educational attainment, a more integrationist society and thereby developing scholarship in the areas of peace and conflict.

The structural character of education in most societies has significant impact on the socialization of citizenship. In this sense education policy offers an ideal means to fortify an ethnic group’s understanding of their place in a country. Assimilationist education policies provide the opportunity to reinforce governing language and culture by offering ‘single institutions operating according to the values of the dominate tradition, where minority needs and interests are often neglected’ . Alternatively, Separatist policies, which are characterised by the provision of ‘separate institutions each serving different constituencies with relatively homogeneous populations’  are able to transmit exclusive cultural practices, expressing a pride in a divergent identity, marking a group as different from those around them.

Education policy aimed at both content and structure, can serve to strengthen or weaken a group’s position within a society and affect inter-group relations.  In societies marked by ethno-politics, identity conflict and division, education therefore takes on a distinctly important role, strengthening and weakening government legitimacy. As such education policy is often the most divisive and contested policy within a society experiencing active conflict. The current academic analysis of education policy within contested societies highlights the mismatch between the desires of the people and their representative political and military elites.

This PhD research should seek to examine the role of teachers in delivering education programmes to young people within heavily contested, multi ethnic societies. We would therefore urge prospective candidates to place particular emphasis on the role of front line education staff (street level bureaucrats) in negotiating identity driven policies in schools.  In summary, the research should aim to capture an empirically up-to-date and analytically rigorous account of the experiences of schoolteachers in societies experiencing conflict or contestation.

The successful candidate would be expected to focus on one or two case studies of his or her choice, with priority given to proposals that focus on the Middle East.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

  • Research proposal of 2000 words detailing aims, objectives, milestones and methodology of the project

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

  • A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

  • Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
  • Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
  • Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

  • Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
  • Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
  • Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
  • Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Monday 18 February 2019
12:00AM

Interview Date
25 to 27 March 2019

Preferred student start date
September 2019

Applying

Apply Online  

Contact supervisor

Professor Karl O'Connor

Other supervisors

  • Dr Kelsey Shanks