Senior Lecturer in Professional Development and International Education. Programme Lead MA Education
I am a Senior Lecturer in Professional Development in the Faculty of Education, Society and Creative Industries.
I have worked in education for over 20 years in a variety of teaching and leadership roles and have taught in the UK and Japan. I have worked with students with a professional background throughout my career. My experience spans teaching, military education, the charity sector and HE.
Prior to my current role I worked as part of our International Initial Teaching Training team at the University of Sunderland. My research area is student sense of belonging, particularly relating to distance and hybrid education. I am also interested in student voice and working collaboratively with students. I am currently conducting research in this area as part of the Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Fellowship award.
The driving force in my career is service and encouraging students' personal and professional development; I'm here to support and challenge the students I work with.
Teaching and supervision
- Programme Leader MA Education
- Student Voice (DL) Lead
Research interests for potential research students
- Coaching and mentoring
- Distance education
- Adult education
- CPD
- Student sense of belonging
- Leadership
Publications
Conference or Workshop Item
Hughes, Mark and Blacklock, Paul (2025) Human-Centred Personalisation in Distance Education for International Teacher Training and Career Development. In: FOBISIA CPD Leaders Conference Malaysia 2025, 20-22 Mar 2025, Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar, Malaysia. (Unpublished)
Blacklock, Paul (2024) A case study of distance education programmes administered through the University of Sunderland, investigating retention and students’ sense of belonging. In: Graduate School Conference, University of Sunderland 2024, 09 Oct 2024, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Blacklock, Paul (2024) FES Conference 2024 roundtable talk. A case study of flexible study routes completed by students in the School of Education, University of Sunderland investigating factors that support student retention�. Focus of sense of belonging. In: Faculty of Education and Society Conference 2024, 10 Jun 2024, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Blacklock, Paul and Hughes, Mark (2023) A Response To Drop-out Rates. In: FES Conference 2023, 12 Jun 23, St Peter's Campus, University of Sunderland.
Blacklock, Paul and Ross, Dionne (2023) Distance not Distant – Supporting and Caring for Independent Distance Learning Trainee Teachers. In: Student Representation Conference, 07 Jun 2023, St Peter's Campus, University of Sunderland.