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Outputs (72)

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

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.

'Qualitative' and 'quantitative' methods and approaches across subject fields: implications for research values, assumptions, and practices (2023)
Journal Article
Pilcher, N., & Cortazzi, M. (2024). 'Qualitative' and 'quantitative' methods and approaches across subject fields: implications for research values, assumptions, and practices. Quality and Quantity, 58, 2357-2387. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-023-01734-

There is considerable literature showing the complexity, connectivity and blurring of 'qualitative' and 'quantitative' methods in research. Yet these concepts are often represented in a binary way as independent dichotomous categories. This is eviden... Read More about 'Qualitative' and 'quantitative' methods and approaches across subject fields: implications for research values, assumptions, and practices.

A Safety Assessment Model for Handling Dangerous Goods in Port Operations: The Key Role of Detection Capability (2023)
Journal Article
Tseng, P., & Pilcher, N. (2023). A Safety Assessment Model for Handling Dangerous Goods in Port Operations: The Key Role of Detection Capability. Journal of marine science and engineering, 11(9), Article 1704. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11091704

Recently, resilience studies have been emphasized in the port field, recognizing that many high-risk and unsafe factors in ports might bring serious disasters and economic losses. One major cause of significant losses is accidents from fires, explosi... Read More about A Safety Assessment Model for Handling Dangerous Goods in Port Operations: The Key Role of Detection Capability.

Construction and Engineering Higher Education: The Role of Pracademics in Recoupling Classical Experiential Educational Norms (2023)
Book Chapter
Forster, A. M., Pilcher, N., Murray, M., Tennant, S., Craig, N., & Galbrun, L. (2023). Construction and Engineering Higher Education: The Role of Pracademics in Recoupling Classical Experiential Educational Norms. In J. Dickinson, & T. Griffiths (Eds.), P

This chapter considers the development of construction and engineering education that historically chartered an increasingly decoupled trajectory from being practical in nature, to include progressively more theoretical instruction. Indeed, over the... Read More about Construction and Engineering Higher Education: The Role of Pracademics in Recoupling Classical Experiential Educational Norms.

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). Hershe

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.

EU Tourism and Student Identities in a pre-Brexit UK (2023)
Journal Article
Anastasiadou, C., Pilcher, N., Gutu, M., & Panyik, E. (2023). EU Tourism and Student Identities in a pre-Brexit UK. Annals of Tourism Research, 99, Article 103545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2023.103545

The EU has long advocated cultural tourism to construct a shared, supranational European identity. Drawing on data collected prior to the UK Brexit referendum, the paper compares EU discourse in selected tourism policy documents, and the travel exper... Read More about EU Tourism and Student Identities in a pre-Brexit UK.

Developing critical intercultural competence through understanding the location, product and processes of dialogue (2022)
Book Chapter
Pilcher, N., & Zhou, V. X. (2022). Developing critical intercultural competence through understanding the location, product and processes of dialogue. In M. Sommier, A. Roiha, & M. Lahti (Eds.), Interculturality in Higher Education: Putting Critical Appro

The idea of ‘intercultural competence’ (ICC) has been beset by tension between training models presenting culture as understood through ‘nation’ based constructs, and counterarguments disparaging such models as reductive and othering, dividing nation... Read More about Developing critical intercultural competence through understanding the location, product and processes of dialogue.

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. 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.

Political and technical complexities of electronic toll collection: Lessons from Taiwan (2022)
Journal Article
Tseng, P., & Pilcher, N. (2022). Political and technical complexities of electronic toll collection: Lessons from Taiwan. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 10(1), 444-453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2022.01.005

Traditional manual toll collection (MTC) imposes a significant queue length near toll plazas and results in road users delay (travel time loss), administration, fuel consumption, accidents, and other societal costs. Many countries (e.g. the U.S., Jap... Read More about Political and technical complexities of electronic toll collection: Lessons from Taiwan.

Estimating the emissions potential of marine transportation using the Kra Canal (2021)
Journal Article
Tseng, P., & Pilcher, N. (2022). Estimating the emissions potential of marine transportation using the Kra Canal. Maritime Transport Research, 3, 100041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.martra.2021.100041

The Panama and Suez canals greatly reduced pollutant emissions from shipping through much reduced sailing distances. Another possible future canal is across the Kra isthmus in Thailand, reducing sailing distances for ships travelling from East Asia t... Read More about Estimating the emissions potential of marine transportation using the Kra Canal.

Ethanol-driven building fungus colonisation: “Whisky Black” in urban built environments (2021)
Journal Article
Craig, N., Pilcher, N., Forster, A. M., & Kennedy, C. (2023). Ethanol-driven building fungus colonisation: “Whisky Black” in urban built environments. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 41(1), 238-257. https://doi.org/10.1108/

Purpose The spirits industry is a major economic contributor worldwide, often requiring years of maturation in barrels that is associated with significant release of ethanol into the surrounding environment. This provides carbon nutrition for coloni... Read More about Ethanol-driven building fungus colonisation: “Whisky Black” in urban built environments.

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.

Examining the opportunities and challenges of the Kra Canal: a PESTELE/SWOT analysis (2021)
Journal Article
Tseng, P., & Pilcher, N. (2022). Examining the opportunities and challenges of the Kra Canal: a PESTELE/SWOT analysis. Maritime Business Review, 7(2), 161-174. https://doi.org/10.1108/mabr-02-2021-0011

Purpose – Much literature considers future impacts of the Kra Canal on shipping times and on individual countries. In this paper, the authors consider the maritime business potential of the Kra Canal for companies, ports and countries. Design/metho... Read More about Examining the opportunities and challenges of the Kra Canal: a PESTELE/SWOT analysis.

Piracy defense strategies for shipping companies and ships: A mixed empirical approach (2021)
Journal Article
Tseng, P., Her, Z., & Pilcher, N. (2021). Piracy defense strategies for shipping companies and ships: A mixed empirical approach. Maritime Transport Research, 2, Article 100020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.martra.2021.100020

Piracy attacks constitute a serious threat against which ships must be ready to defend themselves, particularly given the financial, political and logistical challenges involved in ensuring internationally coordinated protection. Yet, defense is high... Read More about Piracy defense strategies for shipping companies and ships: A mixed empirical approach.

Dealing with the Competition of English-language Export Editions: Voices from the Dutch Trade Book Market (2021)
Journal Article
Trentacosti, G., & Pilcher, N. (2021). Dealing with the Competition of English-language Export Editions: Voices from the Dutch Trade Book Market. Publishing Research Quarterly, 37, 278-292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12109-021-09798-6

This project explores the responses of the Dutch trade book market to the ever-increasing influx of Anglophone publications. Based on in-depth interviews (n = 42) carried out between 2015 and 2017 with Dutch publishing professionals, this research id... Read More about Dealing with the Competition of English-language Export Editions: Voices from the Dutch Trade Book Market.

Considering Generic Study Skills and the roles of Academic Advisers (2021)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
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.

The UK private housebuilding sector: social media perspectives (2020)
Journal Article
Craig, N., Pilcher, N., MacKenzie, R., & Boothman, C. (2021). The UK private housebuilding sector: social media perspectives. International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, 14(3), https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhma-05-2020-0051

Purpose The UK private housebuilding sector is the key supplier of new-build homes for customers, constituting a fifth of the entire UK construction industry. Yet, despite the high average cost of houses, and official reports advocating improvement,... Read More about The UK private housebuilding sector: social media perspectives.

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.

How a particular view of language enables neoliberalism in student support – and how to resist it. (2020)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
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,

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..

Aligning the times: Exploring the convergence of researchers, policy makers and research evidence in higher education policy making (2020)
Journal Article
Smith, K., Fernie, S., & Pilcher, N. (2021). Aligning the times: Exploring the convergence of researchers, policy makers and research evidence in higher education policy making. Research in Education, 110(1), 38-57. https://doi.org/10.1177/003452372092067

The complexity of contemporary higher education policy making and the multitude of evidences and actors in policy networks mean that relationships between higher education researchers, policy makers and research evidence are not straightforward. In t... Read More about Aligning the times: Exploring the convergence of researchers, policy makers and research evidence in higher education policy making.

Role requirements in Academic Recruitment for Construction & Engineering (2020)
Journal Article
Pilcher, N., Galbrun, L., Craig, N., Murray, M., Forster, A., & Tennant, S. (2021). Role requirements in Academic Recruitment for Construction & Engineering. European Journal of Engineering Education, 46(2), 247-265. https://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2020.

Two ongoing and recurrent debates in the employment of academic staff are (1) how much industry experience should faculty staff have? and (2) what priority is given to research, teaching or both? Such debates take place worldwide and are particularly... Read More about Role requirements in Academic Recruitment for Construction & Engineering.

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.

Lime binders for the repair of historic buildings: Considerations for CO2 abatement (2019)
Journal Article
Forster, A. M., Válek, J., Hughes, J. J., & Pilcher, N. (2020). Lime binders for the repair of historic buildings: Considerations for CO2 abatement. Journal of Cleaner Production, 252, 119802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119802

Lime binders are utilised worldwide and are associated with a considerable scale of production and corresponding CO2 emissions. The relevance of this review is therefore international in scope, with production transcending geographical boundaries and... Read More about Lime binders for the repair of historic buildings: Considerations for CO2 abatement.

The 'Skills Gap' in Animation/VFX industry in Scotland (2019)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
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.

Evaluating the key factors of green port policies in Taiwan through quantitative and qualitative approaches (2019)
Journal Article
Tseng, P., & Pilcher, N. (2019). Evaluating the key factors of green port policies in Taiwan through quantitative and qualitative approaches. Transport Policy, 82, 127-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2018.12.014

This paper presents a holistic picture of the factors that affect green port policies through the use of both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitatively, fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) method with 25 questionnaires was used to i... Read More about Evaluating the key factors of green port policies in Taiwan through quantitative and qualitative approaches.

Tapping the thirdness in the intercultural space of dialogue (2018)
Journal Article
Zhou, V. X., & Pilcher, N. (2018). Tapping the thirdness in the intercultural space of dialogue. Language and Intercultural Communication, 19(1), 23-37. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2018.1545025

In this paper, we explore intercultural communication as dialogue occurring in a third space. Through seven students' reflective essays on group-based intercultural learning, we analyse the ever-shifting communicative space that interlocutors produce... Read More about Tapping the thirdness in the intercultural space of dialogue.

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.

Music Generated Narratives: Elaborating the Da Capo Interview Technique (2018)
Journal Article
Cortazzi, M., Pilcher, N., & Jin, L. (2018). Music Generated Narratives: Elaborating the Da Capo Interview Technique. Qualitative Report, 23(10),

Qualitative researchers draw on multiple, creative ways to elicit participant narratives. Our previous use of playing researcher-selected music to participants to elicit narratives at the end of a traditional interview, in what we call the ‘Da Capo’... Read More about Music Generated Narratives: Elaborating the Da Capo Interview Technique.

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

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. No

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’?.

A holistic framework to embed good company practice for customer retention (2017)
Journal Article
McCrory, B., Pilcher, N., & McMillan, J. (2017). A holistic framework to embed good company practice for customer retention. The TQM magazine, 29(2), 257-275. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-11-2015-0139

Purpose: To detail a holistic practice based guiding framework for improving customer retention, which helps companies instil a customer service culture through encouraging them to concentrate on the three key areas of culture, continuous improvement... Read More about A holistic framework to embed good company practice for customer retention.

Assessing the shipping in the Northern Sea Route: a qualitative approach (2017)
Journal Article
Tseng, P., & Pilcher, N. (2017). Assessing the shipping in the Northern Sea Route: a qualitative approach. Maritime Business Review, 2(4), 389-409. https://doi.org/10.1108/mabr-06-2017-0013

Purpose－The Northern Sea Route (NSR) could become viable in the near future. If this happens it will radically reducey impact upon sailing times and distances current routes and have huge implications for shipping worldwide, and particularly on rout... Read More about Assessing the shipping in the Northern Sea Route: a qualitative approach.

‘Intercultural competence’ as an intersubjective process: a reply to ‘essentialism’ (2017)
Journal Article
Zhou, V. X., & Pilcher, N. (2018). ‘Intercultural competence’ as an intersubjective process: a reply to ‘essentialism’. Language and Intercultural Communication, 18(1), 125-143. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2017.1400510

In this paper, we problematise a competence-oriented reflective approach to intercultural education by drawing on four students’ reflective essays about their experiential learning experiences on an ‘Intercultural Competence’ (IC) module. Their refle... Read More about ‘Intercultural competence’ as an intersubjective process: a reply to ‘essentialism’.

Should we teach from materials developed with corpus linguistics? (2017)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. Should we teach from materials developed with corpus linguistics?

In our presentation for the IATEFL ESP-SIG in Athens our intention was to create ‘wobble’ and genuine dialogue around the issue of the importance of ‘context’ in relation to corpus linguistics. We believe we failed to achieve this, as illustrated by... Read More about Should we teach from materials developed with corpus linguistics?.

Can we really measure the impact of port governance reform? (2017)
Journal Article
Pilcher, N., & Tseng, P. (2017). Can we really measure the impact of port governance reform?. Maritime Policy and Management, 44(8), 981-994. https://doi.org/10.1080/03088839.2017.1380318

Approaches by governments to reforming the way in which ports are governed is critical to how ports operate and fulfil their roles, and much research is devoted to investigating the impact of such reform,. Yet, although the challenges of such researc... Read More about Can we really measure the impact of port governance reform?.

Academic literacies: the word is not enough (2017)
Journal Article
Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. (2017). Academic literacies: the word is not enough. Teaching in Higher Education, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2017.1360270

For Academic Literacies, the world is textually mediated; written texts and what informs them reveal elements such as subject-discipline practices. Furthermore, multi-modalities, for example, visual representation, inform written text, and multiple m... Read More about Academic literacies: the word is not enough.

The fall and rise of experiential construction and engineering education: decoupling and recoupling practice and theory (2017)
Journal Article
Forster, A. M., Pilcher, N., Tennant, S., Murray, M., Craig, N., & Copping, A. (2017). The fall and rise of experiential construction and engineering education: decoupling and recoupling practice and theory. Higher Education Pedagogies, 2(1), 79-100. http

From the mid-20th C., construction and engineering pedagogy and curricula have moved from long-held traditional experiential apprenticeship approaches to one ostensibly decoupling practice and theory. This paper traces this decoupling and explores mo... Read More about The fall and rise of experiential construction and engineering education: decoupling and recoupling practice and theory.

A 'third space' perspective on intercultural dialogue (2017)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Zhou, V. X., & Pilcher, N. (2017, June). A 'third space' perspective on intercultural dialogue. Paper presented at 17th International Association for Languages and Intercultural Communication (IALIC) annual conference - Interrogating the 'Third Space': Ne

No abstract available.

Maintaining and researching port safety: a case study of the port of Kaohsiung (2017)
Journal Article
Tseng, P., & Pilcher, N. (2017). Maintaining and researching port safety: a case study of the port of Kaohsiung. European Transport Research Review, 9(34), https://doi.org/10.1007/s12544-017-0250-z

Maintaining port safety in full conformity with IMO standards is a requisite for every port and country. To do this, understanding the challenges and human factors involved is key. To date, much research has shed valuable light on these factors and c... Read More about Maintaining and researching port safety: a case study of the port of Kaohsiung.

Constructing English Medium indicators in the shipping courses of Taiwan's higher education (2017)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Tseng, P., Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. (2017, May). Constructing English Medium indicators in the shipping courses of Taiwan's higher education. Paper presented at 9th International Forum on Shipping, Ports and Airports

English is a common language in the global maritime industry and many countries are now moving towards the use of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) to deliver their courses. Such a medium increases students’ proficiency in the common language... Read More about Constructing English Medium indicators in the shipping courses of Taiwan's higher education.

Problematising the ‘Career Academic’ in UK construction and engineering education: does the system want what the system gets? (2017)
Journal Article
Pilcher, N., Forster, A., Tennant, S., Murray, M., & Craig, N. (2017). Problematising the ‘Career Academic’ in UK construction and engineering education: does the system want what the system gets?. European Journal of Engineering Education, 42(6), 147

‘Career Academics’ are principally research-led, entering academia with limited or no industrial or practical experience. UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) welcome them for their potential to attain research grant funding and publish world-lead... Read More about Problematising the ‘Career Academic’ in UK construction and engineering education: does the system want what the system gets?.

Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk: Are Career Academics Gatekeepers to Students’ Tacit Knowledge? (2017)
Journal Article
Murray, M. D., Tennant, S., Forster, A., Craig, N., Copping, A., & Pilcher, N. (2017). Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk: Are Career Academics Gatekeepers to Students’ Tacit Knowledge?. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice, 5(2), 112-114.

An opinion piece that argues for a more balanced portfolio of academic staff within faculty, whereby pracademics are ‘pivotal’ academic staff who can ‘talk the talk and walk the walk’ with students who have industrial placement experience.

Challenging the power invested in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Why determining ‘English’ preparedness needs to be undertaken within the subject context (2017)
Journal Article
Pilcher, N., & Richards, K. (2017). Challenging the power invested in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Why determining ‘English’ preparedness needs to be undertaken within the subject context. Power and Education, 9(1), 3-17.

Higher Education (HE) institutions worldwide base international student recruitment on the assumption their preparedness in ‘English’ is assured if they reach a certain level in tests such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).... Read More about Challenging the power invested in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Why determining ‘English’ preparedness needs to be undertaken within the subject context.

Dialogues: ‘QUANT’ researchers on ‘QUAL’ methods. (2016)
Journal Article
Pilcher, N., & Cortazzi, M. (2016). Dialogues: ‘QUANT’ researchers on ‘QUAL’ methods. Qualitative Report, 21(3), 450-473

Qualitative researchers commonly perceive that positivist hard-science researchers and policies of governments deprecate qualitative methods and approaches. Curiously though, we could not see anyone asking quantitative researchers ‘What do you think... Read More about Dialogues: ‘QUANT’ researchers on ‘QUAL’ methods..

Exploring the viability of an emission tax policy for ships at berth in Taiwanese ports (2016)
Journal Article
Tseng, P. H., & Pilcher, N. (2016). Exploring the viability of an emission tax policy for ships at berth in Taiwanese ports. International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 8(6), 705-722. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSTL.2016.079289

This paper considers an emissions tax to help limit external air pollution from ships in Taiwanese ports through a mixed methods research (MMR) approach. Through an empirical bottom-up activity-based model, external air pollution costs are estimated... Read More about Exploring the viability of an emission tax policy for ships at berth in Taiwanese ports.

The Role of Experienced Practitioners in Engineering Education: the End of an Era? (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Craig, N., Tennant, S., Murray, M., Forster, A., & Pilcher, N. (2016). The Role of Experienced Practitioners in Engineering Education: the End of an Era?. In 6th International Symposium for Engineering Education 2016 (271-278)

Delivering excellence in higher engineering education is dependent on many variables. This includes programme design, delivery and content, university support and the knowledge, experience and enthusiasm of faculty members. Over the past decade there... Read More about The Role of Experienced Practitioners in Engineering Education: the End of an Era?.

Port governance in Taiwan: How hypocrisy helps meet aspirations of change (2016)
Journal Article
Tseng, P., & Pilcher, N. (2016). Port governance in Taiwan: How hypocrisy helps meet aspirations of change. Research in Transportation Business & Management, 22, 38-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2016.07.003

In Taiwan, significant port reform commenced in 2012 that aspired to enhance port performance and competitiveness. Previously managed by four units, the ports are now managed by only two: the Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB) (a port regulator) and the... Read More about Port governance in Taiwan: How hypocrisy helps meet aspirations of change.

An individual subjectivist critique of the use of corpus linguistics to inform pedagogical materials. (2016)
Journal Article
Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. (2016). An individual subjectivist critique of the use of corpus linguistics to inform pedagogical materials. Dialogic Pedagogy, 4, https://doi.org/10.5195/dpj.2016.163

Corpus Linguistics, or the gathering together of language into a body for analysis and development of materials, claims itself an assured, established method (or field) that valuably informs pedagogical materials and knowledge of language. The fundam... Read More about An individual subjectivist critique of the use of corpus linguistics to inform pedagogical materials..

The paradigmatic hearts of subjects which their "English" flows through (2016)
Journal Article
Pilcher, N., & Richards, K. (2016). The paradigmatic hearts of subjects which their "English" flows through. Higher Education Research and Development, 35(5), 997-1010. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2016.1138455

Much research into the use of corpora and discourse to support higher education students on pre-sessional and in-sessional courses champions subject specificity. Drawing on the work of writers such as Bakhtin (1981) and Voloshinov (1973), in this art... Read More about The paradigmatic hearts of subjects which their "English" flows through.

Avoiding dialogues of non-discovery through promoting dialogues of discovery. (2015)
Journal Article
Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. (2015). Avoiding dialogues of non-discovery through promoting dialogues of discovery. Dialogic Pedagogy, 3, 43-64. https://doi.org/10.5195/dpj.2015.101

International students and direct entrants—those entering a higher year of a degree—often come from socio-economic or cultural backgrounds different from traditional students, and have different educational backgrounds. It is assumed such students ne... Read More about Avoiding dialogues of non-discovery through promoting dialogues of discovery..

Deconstructing 'Mono'-Lingualism: considerations of value for 'English' 'language' education in a global setting. (2015)
Book Chapter
Pilcher, N., & Richards, K. (2015). Deconstructing 'Mono'-Lingualism: considerations of value for 'English' 'language' education in a global setting. In L. T. Wong, & A. Dubey-Jhaveri (Eds.), English language education in a global world: practices, issues

Traditionally, language speakers are categorised as mono-lingual, bilingual, or multilingual. It is traditionally assumed in English language education that the ‘lingual’ is something that can be ‘fixed’ in form, written down to be learnt, and taught... Read More about Deconstructing 'Mono'-Lingualism: considerations of value for 'English' 'language' education in a global setting..

The impact of National Qualifications Frameworks: by which yardstick do we measure dreams? (2015)
Journal Article
Pilcher, N., Fernie, S., & Smith, K. (2017). The impact of National Qualifications Frameworks: by which yardstick do we measure dreams?. Journal of Education and Work, 30(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2015.1122178

National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs) are a global phenomenon. This is evidenced by their scale, coverage and intrinsic link with education policy across Europe and beyond. Research into their impact has encompassed a number of perspectives; theo... Read More about The impact of National Qualifications Frameworks: by which yardstick do we measure dreams?.

A study of the potential of shore power for the port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan: To introduce or not to introduce? (2015)
Journal Article
Tseng, P., & Pilcher, N. (2015). A study of the potential of shore power for the port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan: To introduce or not to introduce?. Research in Transportation Business & Management, 17, 83-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2015.09.001

To reduce ship emissions in port and city environments, cold ironing, or shore power has been suggested and implemented in many global advanced ports. Shore power is a land-to-ship electricity connection that allows ships to switch off onboard diesel... Read More about A study of the potential of shore power for the port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan: To introduce or not to introduce?.

Hunt the shadow not the substance: the rise of the career academic in construction education (2015)
Journal Article
Tennant, S., Murray, M., Forster, A., & Pilcher, N. (2015). Hunt the shadow not the substance: the rise of the career academic in construction education. Teaching in Higher Education, 20(7), 723-737. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2015.1070342

Construction education is context-laden, navigating and reflecting the byzantine influences of period, place and person. Despite considerable rhetoric, in UK higher education (HE) and construction studies in particular the importance of contextualize... Read More about Hunt the shadow not the substance: the rise of the career academic in construction education.

‘Discuss, Analyse, Define …’ Non-traditional Students Come to Terms with Cultures of Learning in the UK (2013)
Book Chapter
Pilcher, N., & Richards, K. (2013). ‘Discuss, Analyse, Define …’ Non-traditional Students Come to Terms with Cultures of Learning in the UK. In M. Cortazzi, & L. Jin (Eds.), Researching Intercultural Learning (135-151). Palgrave Macmillan. https://d

In contrast to students in many countries, British university students are often older than the common 18–22 age range; some are ‘non-traditional’ students who may have had experience of work in industrial or professional contexts before they study.... Read More about ‘Discuss, Analyse, Define …’ Non-traditional Students Come to Terms with Cultures of Learning in the UK.

International Students' First Encounters with Exams in the UK: Superficially Similar But Deeply Different (2013)
Journal Article
Pilcher, N., Smith, K., & Riley, J. (2013). International Students' First Encounters with Exams in the UK: Superficially Similar But Deeply Different. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 2013(1), 1-13

Although end of course exams remain a key mode of assessment in higher education, little research has focused on international students' experiences of exams. There seems to be a tacit assumption in most literature that exam preparation and strategie... Read More about International Students' First Encounters with Exams in the UK: Superficially Similar But Deeply Different.

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework: what's academic practice got to do with it? (2013)
Journal Article
Fernie, S., Pilcher, N., & Smith, K. L. (2014). The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework: what's academic practice got to do with it?. European Journal of Education, 49(2), 233-248. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12056

National Qualifications Frameworks (NQF) are a globally established and expanding phenomenon. They are increasingly merging and being mapped onto meta-qualifications frameworks. One key NQF in both these roles is the Scottish Credit and Qualification... Read More about The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework: what's academic practice got to do with it?.

Contextualising higher education assessment task words with an ‘anti-glossary’ approach (2013)
Journal Article
Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. (2014). Contextualising higher education assessment task words with an ‘anti-glossary’ approach. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 27(5), 604-625. https://doi.org/10.1080/09518398.2013.805443

Key ‘generic’ assessment task words such as ‘discuss’ and ‘critically evaluate’ are integral to higher education assessment. Although sources such as study skills guides give generic decontextualised glossaries of these words, much research rightly a... Read More about Contextualising higher education assessment task words with an ‘anti-glossary’ approach.

Da capo: A musical technique to evoke narrative recall (2013)
Journal Article
Pilcher, N., Cortazzi, M., & Jin, L. (2014). Da capo: A musical technique to evoke narrative recall. Psychology of Music, 42(4), 483-502. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735613480257

This article proposes the use of recorded music chosen by researchers to elicit participant accounts of life experiences, a technique we name ‘da capo recall.’ Fifteen mainland Chinese students who had studied in the UK were played seven contrasting... Read More about Da capo: A musical technique to evoke narrative recall.

Language choices and 'blind shadows': investigating interviews with Chinese participants (2011)
Journal Article
Cortazzi, M., Pilcher, N., & Jin, L. (2011). Language choices and 'blind shadows': investigating interviews with Chinese participants. Qualitative Research, 11(5), 505-535. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794111413225

This article shows the importance of the language chosen for research interviewing when more than one language could be used. It does so through the context of research with Chinese speakers published in English. The article has two research aims: fi... Read More about Language choices and 'blind shadows': investigating interviews with Chinese participants.

The UK postgraduate Masters dissertation: an ‘elusive chameleon’? (2011)
Journal Article
Pilcher, N. (2011). The UK postgraduate Masters dissertation: an ‘elusive chameleon’?. Teaching in Higher Education, 16(1), (29-40). doi:10.1080/13562517.2011.530752. ISSN 1356-2517

Many studies into the process of producing and supervising dissertations exist, yet little research into the ‘product’ of the Masters dissertation, or into how Masters supervision changes over time exist. Drawing on 62 semi-structured interviews with... Read More about The UK postgraduate Masters dissertation: an ‘elusive chameleon’?.

National Qualification Frameworks: developing research perspectives. (2009)
Journal Article
Fernie, S., & Pilcher, N. (2009). National Qualification Frameworks: developing research perspectives. Quality in Higher Education, 15, 221-232. doi:10.1080/13538320903343099

Arguments for National Qualification Frameworks (NQF) are compelling. Indeed, such frameworks are now an international phenomenon. Yet, few studies take a critical perspective and challenge the broad assumptions underpinning NQF. Arguments presented... Read More about National Qualification Frameworks: developing research perspectives..