About Dr Kate Duffy
I am a Senior Lecturer in Education and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). I have been leading and teaching courses in Education Studies for over 15 years.
My role is divided between teaching and leading research activities in the School of Education.
My subject specialisms and interests are the philosophy of education, critical thinking and inquiry, formative assessment, qualitative research paradigms and relational pedagogies.
I have had the privilege of teaching students from undergraduate to professional doctorate study. I am a former 14–19 educator, working at the intersection of compulsory and tertiary education. I led ‘Increased Flexibility’ programmes to re-engage young people with their studies and contributed to staff development and teacher training programmes as well as curriculum design.
I began my university studies as a mature student in my mid-twenties. My experience has shaped my commitment to widening access and participation to university education so that others can benefit from the transformative effect that education can have. What I love most about my job are the connections and positive interactions which develop through the student-teacher relationship and how we learn from and with one another.
The other significant part of my role is Research Lead for Initial Teacher Education (ITT). This involves supporting colleagues with their research activity and convening the Centre for Research in Education (CRE) Public Seminar series. The series showcases the wide range of research that is undertaken at different stages of development. In this role, I also work with external partners such as Global SpiritEd and support the Global Research Network, which is committed to exploring ways to personalise education and increase student agency.
I have also been Principal Investigator for two UKRI Partnership projects (2021–23) to enhance student autonomy in assessment and promote student self-assessment. I am a member of the University’s Research Ethics Panel, committed to ensuring good practice in research, and I am a representative on many programme validation and curriculum development panels.
I have also received awards and nominations for my work:
- University of Sunderland, Vice Chancellor Teaching Fellow Award, 2023
- University of Sunderland Student Awarded Teaching Awards, nomination for Outstanding Doctoral Supervisor, 2023
- University of Sunderland Student Awarded Teaching Awards, nomination for Most Inspirational Member of University Staff, 2023
- University of Sunderland Student Awarded Teaching Awards, nomination for Outstanding Personal Academic Tutor, 2023
- University of Sunderland Student Awarded Teaching Awards, nomination for Tutor who Provides Outstanding Feedback, 2023
Outside of the University, I contribute to networks for Autoethnography and The Association of Moral Education. I am a committee member of the Relation-Centered Education Network (RCEN) and 2024 Conference Chair(opens in new tab) to be held in Trondheim, Norway.
Outside of work, I enjoy training for triathlon events and spending time with family.
Teaching and supervision
I am Deputy Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Education Studies. My teaching expertise is in the areas of pedagogy, moral education and practice, and autobiographical research in education. I am directly involved in modules such as Philosophy and Education, Ethics in Education, Comparative Education and the undergraduate Dissertation.
Encouraging the use of dialogue and enquiry in my teaching is important towards developing students' confidence in the subject they are studying; therefore, seminars are active, and student participation is essential, making for lively debates and discussions.
I also supervise students on MA Education and students following PhD studies.
Current areas of PhD supervision includes:
- Assessment and feedback in ITE
- Interactions and pedagogy in SEND contexts
- Observation and reflexive practice in ITE
- Inclusive education
- Authentic leadership in ITE
- Student support in HE
- Memory and recall in drama education
As the Research Lead for the Initial Teacher Education Team (ITE), I mentor and support colleagues in their research practice projects and curriculum development.
Interests
My research interests and expertise are in critical thinking, Philosophy for Children (P4C), teacher education and student self-assessment practice. I am particularly interested in supervising students who are researching aspects of moral practice, reflective practice, relational pedagogies, critical thinking and philosophy of education.
I am willing to supervise doctoral studies in the areas of expertise listed above and would welcome approaches to discuss possible projects.
Research
My PhD was entitled 'Embracing Vulnerability: Moral Practice within Higher Education'.
The study explores moral education within higher education from the perspective of the practitioner. The methodology I adopted was auto-ethnography, making my teacher diary the primary source for research data.
I have supervised dissertations in areas such as British Values, Critical Thinking, Gender in Dance Education, the role of Apprenticeships, Creative Teaching in Prison Education, Observations of Teaching and Learning and the Role of Ofsted.
Areas of expertise
- Moral education and ethical teaching practice
- Theories of teaching, learning and assessment
- Research in education – qualitative methods
- Philosophy for children and community of philsophical enquiry