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All Outputs (33)

Diversity and inclusion in UK Higher Education: staff perspectives on institutional representations and their reality (2023)
Journal Article
Richards, K., Pilcher, N., Galbrun, L., Forster, A., & Richards, J. (2023). Diversity and inclusion in UK Higher Education: staff perspectives on institutional representations and their reality. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 28(4), 647-669. https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2023.2253654

This paper examines staff perspectives on institutional representations of a range of areas of diversity and inclusion in a key post-compulsory education sector: that of UK Higher Education (HE). The paper focuses on comparing representational statem... Read More about Diversity and inclusion in UK Higher Education: staff perspectives on institutional representations and their reality.

Using Rubrics as Feedforward Tools for Subject Contextualized Dialogue (2023)
Book Chapter
Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. (2023). Using Rubrics as Feedforward Tools for Subject Contextualized Dialogue. In C. Gonsalves, & J. Pearson (Eds.), Improving Learning Through Assessment Rubrics: Student Awareness of What and How They Learn (229-247). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-6086-3.ch013

This chapter outlines an approach to using rubrics in a feedforward process using dialogue between teachers and students that takes place before students hand in their assignments. As such, it aims to complement existing research demonstrating the va... Read More about Using Rubrics as Feedforward Tools for Subject Contextualized Dialogue.

Stakeholder perspectives of Internationalisation of Universities in China’s non-first-tier Cities: A Case Study (2023)
Journal Article
Cruickshank, P., Luo, L., & Richards, K. (2023). Stakeholder perspectives of Internationalisation of Universities in China’s non-first-tier Cities: A Case Study. Internationalisation of Higher Education – Policy and Practice, 2023(1), https://doi.org/10.36197/INT.1-2023.01

Internationalisation of higher education (IoHE) is used by a growing number of non-first-tier cities in China make their universities more globally competitive. However, we only have limited understandings about the strategies, drivers and challenges... Read More about Stakeholder perspectives of Internationalisation of Universities in China’s non-first-tier Cities: A Case Study.

Enhancing Student Support in Higher Education: A Subject-Focused Approach (2022)
Book
Pilcher, N., & Richards, K. (2022). Enhancing Student Support in Higher Education: A Subject-Focused Approach. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81724-4

This book is about supporting students in Higher Education using language, and specifically using a combination of written text based linguistic approaches alongside and with other non-text related languages. The authors call this a beyond-text subje... Read More about Enhancing Student Support in Higher Education: A Subject-Focused Approach.

Scotland’s History of Animation: An Exploratory Account of the Key Figures and Influential Events (2021)
Journal Article
Mortimer, J., Pilcher, N., & Richards, K. (2021). Scotland’s History of Animation: An Exploratory Account of the Key Figures and Influential Events. Animation, 16(3), 190-206. https://doi.org/10.1177/17468477211052598

Scotland’s history of animation is a forgotten past accomplishment in the animation/VFX sector, with key influential animation professionals having had an impact both at home and abroad. Yet, to date, this history has not been meaningfully documented... Read More about Scotland’s History of Animation: An Exploratory Account of the Key Figures and Influential Events.

Considering Generic Study Skills and the roles of Academic Advisers (2021)
Presentation / Conference
Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. (2021, January). Considering Generic Study Skills and the roles of Academic Advisers. Presented at ScotHELD Winter 2021 Conference, Online

In this short session we draw on work we have done over a number of years but primarily on a recent paper published in Teaching in Higher Education entitled ‘Study Skills: neoliberalism’s perfect Tinkerbell.’ We outline our own roles in the UK and Au... Read More about Considering Generic Study Skills and the roles of Academic Advisers.

Study Skills: neoliberalism’s perfect Tinkerbell (2020)
Journal Article
Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. (2023). Study Skills: neoliberalism’s perfect Tinkerbell. Teaching in Higher Education, 28(3), 580-596. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2020.1839745

We argue that current approaches to Study Skills support are presented as being a panacea for resolving the issues presented by neoliberal approaches to educational expansion. We argue that for such a panacea to be believed pedagogically effective, f... Read More about Study Skills: neoliberalism’s perfect Tinkerbell.

Measuring the effectiveness of English medium instruction shipping courses (2020)
Journal Article
Tseng, P., Pilcher, N., & Richards, K. (2020). Measuring the effectiveness of English medium instruction shipping courses. Maritime Business Review, 5(4), 351-371. https://doi.org/10.1108/mabr-10-2019-0042

Purpose: Shipping courses contain much technical and specialist knowledge and present particular challenges for English medium instruction (EMI). This paper aims to investigate both student perceptions of the importance and satisfaction level of EMI... Read More about Measuring the effectiveness of English medium instruction shipping courses.

Agile Implementation and Expansive Learning: Identifying Contradictions and Their Resolution Using an Activity Theory Perspective (2020)
Conference Proceeding
Chita, P., Cruickshank, P., Smith, C., & Richards, K. (2020). Agile Implementation and Expansive Learning: Identifying Contradictions and Their Resolution Using an Activity Theory Perspective. In Agile Processes in Software Engineering and Extreme Programming (3-19). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49392-9_1

A key challenge organisations face when transitioning to agile delivery methods is that of quickly and effectively learning new ways of working. This study posits that fundamental historical, cultural and behavioural aspects affect the transition and... Read More about Agile Implementation and Expansive Learning: Identifying Contradictions and Their Resolution Using an Activity Theory Perspective.

How a particular view of language enables neoliberalism in student support – and how to resist it. (2020)
Presentation / Conference
Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. (2020, May). How a particular view of language enables neoliberalism in student support – and how to resist it. Paper presented at DPR20 Discourse, Power and Resistance the values of education, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

In this presentation, extending previous research, the authors argue that a particular view of language which sees it as a concrete abstract objectivist entity separable from any context for analysis and teaching underpins neoliberal approaches to su... Read More about How a particular view of language enables neoliberalism in student support – and how to resist it..

Using physical objects as a portal to reveal academic subject identity and thought (2020)
Journal Article
Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. (2020). Using physical objects as a portal to reveal academic subject identity and thought. Qualitative Report, 25(1), 127-144

We are lecturers who help students studying subjects that use word-based writing, non-word based writing such as Mathematics, and non-text based language such as visual semiotics. To access examples of such language with subject lecturers we have fou... Read More about Using physical objects as a portal to reveal academic subject identity and thought.

The 'Skills Gap' in Animation/VFX industry in Scotland (2019)
Presentation / Conference
Mortimer, J., Pilcher, N., & Richards, K. (2019, November). The 'Skills Gap' in Animation/VFX industry in Scotland. Presented at Educating Animators Conference, University of Salford, Manchester

This presentation outlines the perceptions of professionals from the animation/vfx industry in Scotland regarding the teaching of animation in Further and Higher Education. The concept of a possible 'Skills Gap' was explored through questions posed t... Read More about The 'Skills Gap' in Animation/VFX industry in Scotland.

How a view of language underpins approaches to supporting higher education students that facilitate neo-liberalism, and how to resist this (2018)
Journal Article
Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. (2018). How a view of language underpins approaches to supporting higher education students that facilitate neo-liberalism, and how to resist this. Power and Education, 175774381881180. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757743818811801

In this article we argue a particular view of language underpins approaches to supporting students in Higher Education, and that this view facilitates neoliberalism. Universities worldwide have glossaries of terms such as 'describe' or 'discuss', and... Read More about How a view of language underpins approaches to supporting higher education students that facilitate neo-liberalism, and how to resist this.

Research grounded support of student learning in Higher Education: The importance of dialogue and subject embedded, contextualised language and content. (2018)
Thesis
Richards, K. Research grounded support of student learning in Higher Education: The importance of dialogue and subject embedded, contextualised language and content. (Thesis). Edinburgh Napier University. Retrieved from http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1532248

This aim of this thesis is to demonstrate how the research that has been conducted by the author, as illustrated through the publications presented, adds to the domain of academic support – specifically the theory and practice of academic support wit... Read More about Research grounded support of student learning in Higher Education: The importance of dialogue and subject embedded, contextualised language and content..

Western and Eastern Building Conservation Philosophies: Perspectives on Permanence and Impermanence (2018)
Journal Article
Forster, A. M., Thomson, D., Richards, K., Pilcher, N., & Vettese, S. (2019). Western and Eastern Building Conservation Philosophies: Perspectives on Permanence and Impermanence. International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 13(6), 870-885. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2018.1490827

In this conceptual paper, we illuminate Western building conservation philosophy practice with insights into Eastern conservation philosophy and associated aesthetic understanding. We frame dialogue recognising individual and societal perspectives on... Read More about Western and Eastern Building Conservation Philosophies: Perspectives on Permanence and Impermanence.

Constructing English-medium instruction indicators in the shipping courses of Taiwan’s higher education (2018)
Journal Article
Tseng, P., Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. (2018). Constructing English-medium instruction indicators in the shipping courses of Taiwan’s higher education. Maritime Business Review, https://doi.org/10.1108/mabr-07-2017-0020

English is a common language in the global shipping industry and many universities in non-English speaking countries in the world are now moving towards the use of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) to deliver their courses. Such a medium incre... Read More about Constructing English-medium instruction indicators in the shipping courses of Taiwan’s higher education.

What Is The ‘Academic Purpose’ Of ‘English’ In ‘English For Academic Purposes’? (2017)
Book Chapter
Pilcher, N., & Richards, K. (2017). What Is The ‘Academic Purpose’ Of ‘English’ In ‘English For Academic Purposes’?. In L. Tuen Wong, & W. Lam Wong (Eds.), Teaching and Learning English for Academic Purposes: Current Research and Practices. Nova Science Publishers

In this chapter, we suggest abandoning the current form of EAP for a form of EAP that is actively explorative of and taught within individual subject contexts. We argue that for students to meet the ‘academic purposes’ in academic subjects requires t... Read More about What Is The ‘Academic Purpose’ Of ‘English’ In ‘English For Academic Purposes’?.