Michael Tomlinson Joins CELE as Visiting Professor

Michael Tomlinson is Co-Director of the Leadership, Effective Education and Policy (LEEP) research centre and is also the Southampton Education School’s Research Impact Champion. According to Tomlinson, there are strong overlaps with CELE’s research on educational and work transitions, as well as the Centre’s interests in policy and social justice.

“The theme of policy analysis recurs in much of my research, particularly the impacts of policy on student experience in HE and working lives. This also appears to be strong theme in CELE research. I’m also interested in how different groups, for example, lower socio-economic students, those with disabilities and special educational needs negotiate the labour market and perceive support mechanisms.”

Tomlinson’s schedule during the visit to Turku included lectures and meetings with Doctoral Researchers, for example. He says he had excellent talks and discussions with doctoral researchers, and he is impressed with the work being done amongst early career researchers. He also took part in a seminar called Intensification and Meaning of Work.

“I’ve enjoyed meeting colleagues and hearing about the valuable research being done at CELE, and the seminar showcased some prescient and thought-provoking talks on the impacts of policy changes and the contested meanings of being a student, lifelong learner and professional in a turbulent policy and economic context”, he says.

Tomlinson started his Visiting Professorship in January this year. He is looking forward to collaborating on different research projects, drawing on existing data sets and developing new ones, as well as conceptual developments in the fields of careers and meaningful work.

“Other researchers and I in CELE are keen to develop a cross-national research bid on themes of young people’s transitions and pathways and use that as a foundation for continued collaboration over the coming 5 years. There’s interesting work being done on employer engagement and careers ecosystems, so this is likely to yield some collaborative endeavors”, Tomlinson says.

International collaboration in the development of educational sciences is very important on many levels, according to Tomlinson. He says it’s valuable for enriching the empirical dimensions of research for exploring how the different national political-economic contexts influence the situation of those being studied.

“Researchers from different national contexts come with diverse conceptual and methodological specialisms and insights and this therefore helps researchers to build their knowledge bases. There are also strategic and policy implications given the value of applying for international funds and the capacity of build knowledge exchange and impact that can works across multiple national contexts. Essentially, all research outputs tend to be further enriched through an international dimension that helps connect to ongoing political and economic developments”, says Tomlinson.

During the visit, Tomlinson had time to explore the city of Turku too.

“I’ve visited Turku on about 3 previous occasions and find it a captivating city, even in the colder months! I’ve visited some lovely restaurants and bars in the centre and on the outskirts. I have also enjoyed a visit to the Castle as well as a walk around the delightful island of Ruissalo. I much look forward to exploring more sights and sounds in future visits!”