Manchester Metropolitan University

Education and Social Research Institute

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The Education and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is largely based in the Faculty of Education at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), UK, but also includes members from other MMU departments including psychology, sociology and sports science. The Institute is one of the leading UK centres for applied educational research and evaluation, and a thriving research community. We were rated in the top ten research departments in the UK for educational research in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, with the majority of our research being rated as ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘world leading’. We have an outstanding portfolio of research grants and publications, regularly organise national and international seminars and workshops and other services to research, and hold several ESRC CASE studentship awards. The Institute is committed to research-enriched professional practice, and aims to offer the best and most innovative approaches to research-based professionalism in the UK, across a growing range of professional areas.

to contribute to the development of theory and methodology in applied social research; to promote research-based understandings of policy and practice in education and the professions; to support practitioners and professionals in researching their own practice and contexts of work; to work closely with the users of social research at all stages of the research process; to provide first-class research training and support for new and developing researchers

A summary of our aims:

  • to lead debate, nationally and internationally, on the nature and future of education and educational research;
  • to contribute to the development of theory and methodology in applied social research;
  • to promote research-based understandings of policy and practice in education and the professions;
  • to support practitioners and professionals in researching their own practice and contexts of work;
  • to work closely with the users of social research at all stages of the research process;
  • to provide first-class research training and support for new and developing researchers