Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba
Read all about what SGSSS has been up to in our 2024/25 Year in Review!
Click here

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science

Sgoil Cheumnaichean Saidheans Sòisealta na h-Alba

SGSSS Academic Placements

The Stirling Centre for Research into Curriculum Making (SCRCM)

Placement host: The Stirling Centre for Research into Curriculum Making (SCRCM)
Full time/part time: 3 months full-time/6 months part-time
In person/remote/hybrid: Hybrid
Start date: January 2026

Project Title

Curriculum Making

Project Details

The Stirling Centre for Research into Curriculum Making (SCRCM) develops and undertakes original research into curriculum making, engages in knowledge exchange with policy makers and practitioners to develop the curriculum across education systems, and disseminates research through face-to-face events and webinars.

There are several possible areas for participation on the placement, and we would wish to provide flexibility, depending on the interests of the person being placed. It is possible for the placement holder to get involved in one or more of the following, with opportunities to conduct original empirical research and undertake knowledge exchange and impact activity.

  1. Empirical research led by Mark Priestley and Joe Smith into the development of Scotland’s Curriculum Improvement Cycle, specifically the new technical framework. This will involve exploration of the perspectives of stakeholders developing the framework, education professionals who will enact it and children and young people who will experience it. The purpose of this research is to build greater understanding of the conditions and issues that will shape the eventual enactment of the new framework.
  2. Policy research relating to scientific literacies in qualifications and the curriculum, led by Andrea Priestley and Denise Quiroz Martinez. This research will involve examination of key documentation in Scotland and Chile, as well as empirical research with teachers.
  3. Empirical research led by Lizzie Rushton around teachers’ understanding of sustainability and climate change education. This research will involve evaluation of programmes of knowledge exchange (working with experienced teachers) as well as evaluation of the impact of Scotland’s new National Framework for Learning for Sustainability in Initial Teacher Education.
  4. Knowledge exchange to develop a new curriculum making toolkit for schools and teachers (working in partnership with the International Baccalaureate Organisation). This programme will involve workshops with teachers in Scotland and international settings to trial and refine the toolkit.

Work Plan

This is flexible, depending on the agreed focus on the placement. We would anticipate the following, with a large emphasis on collaborative team working:

  1. Allocation of a senior mentor for the duration of the placement, with regular (weekly) meetings.
  2. Involvement in research design.
  3. Participation in applying ethical approval.
  4. Participation in empirical data generation and analysis.
  5. Participation in knowledge exchange and impact pathway activity.
  6. Administrative duties (e.g. organising interviews, communications re SCRCM events)
  7. The opportunity to be a co-author on any academic outputs.

The above activities articulate with the Universities mission to conduct research focused on places, spaces and people.

This opportunity offers the following benefits for the student: ​

Overall, this is a good opportunity to experience working in a busy research centre, through participation in one or more activities currently undertaken by SCRCM. The student will gain experience of working collaboratively in small research teams and will be able to build connections within the SCRCM networks. There may be an opportunity to publish with colleagues.

Skills Required

Essential: 
  • Well-organised and self-motivated with an ability to work to clear and agreed deadlines
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Ability to work within a team with a range of experience and expertise
  • An interest and some expertise in educational practice (especially schools)
Desirable: 
  • An interest in curriculum studies
  • Experience of writing for publication in varied formats including for policy, practice and/or research language
  • Experience of facilitating conversations and/or workshops for practitioners

Eligibility

Academic placements are open to SGSSS funded students whose ESRC funding began after October 2024 only.

Contact for Queries

Professor Mark Priestley, m.r.priestley@stir.ac.uk

How to Apply

Please submit an application via SGSSS Apply.

The deadline to apply is 17 November 2025 at 4pm. Shortlisted applicants may be invited to interview.

For further information, please consult the Research in Practice Guidance for Students. If this does not answer your questions, please contact SGSSS: team@sgsss.ac.uk.

 

Submit application via SGSSS Apply
Download Placement Information Document
Download the Research in Practice Guidance for Students

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Privacy Policy

© 2024 All rights reserved​

Scottish Graduate School of Social Science, proudly funded by