Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD) alumni profiles

 Charmagne Barnes

Year of graduation: 2022
Job: Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean for College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare, University of West London 

Why did you choose to study at the University of Nottingham?

The reputation in the field of education and research attracted me to study at the university. The profile of the researchers within the education department was a further bonus.I liked the way the course was designed as it felt conducive to my work patterns. The taught component allowed for a ‘cohort’ feel which was important to my style of learning. I chose the EdD well!

How has the course helped you in your career?

The course helped me grow in terms of my ability to learn at a higher level and to articulate this effectively through my assessments, culminating in the production of my thesis.

The course has given me the confidence to speak about my research, to influence and engage with interested parties, policy makers at a regional and national level and university fora that speak to, and for, academic leadership for Black Minoritised Ethnic women in higher education. My learning, experiences and research has equipped me for this. I have been promoted to a senior leadership role within the University of West London and I use this remit to further the EDI agenda. 

This has to be one of the best transformational learning I have ever done!! On occasion, very challenging but overall, no regrets at all.

What do you want to do now you have completed your EdD? What are your plans for the future?

I continue to work in higher education and am enjoying the title associated with gaining my EdD. Gaining a doctorate is important for recognition in your field and definitely supports promotion prospects.

Was there a particular aspect of the course you enjoyed the most/what was the best part of the course?

I enjoyed the peer support gained through cohort membership, alongside innovative teaching and learning, and excellent support. These aspects gave me a sense of preparedness to undertake this significant course.

How did you manage to balance employment while studying?

The nature of the professional doctorate allowed me to stay motivated throughout as I was drawing on my lived experiences and making the connections with my learning. I recognised the need for discipline in relation to my study alongside the need for work-like balance. The support of my employer, colleagues, friends and family gave me the balance and motivation I required. My supervisors helped immensely with their flexibility and recognition of my learning needs, balanced against a full-time job and family.

How were you supported during your EdD?

Excellent supervisors in Kay Fuller and Pat Thomson, who challenged, yet always remained constructive and encouraging and kept me going in the right direction. They showed flexibility to accommodate me. Their level of knowledge/ideas/analysis/thought was simply amazing and so uplifting!

Preparation for my viva was done so thoughtfully with encouragement about the process, how I might answer questions and how I owned this research and I was absolutely capable of defending it!

I really enjoyed working with my cohort peers, we went on to become friends and still see each other.

Why do you think students should come to the University of Nottingham to do the EdD?

Reputation, expertise of lecturers, world-leading research and excellent supervision which is key to keeping on track with your thesis.

Any advice for anyone thinking of starting the EdD? 

Go for it!!! Find something you want to research, work through your work-life balance and don’t look back.  

Steve McNichol

Year of graduation: 2022
Job: Programme Leader for MA Education, Bishop Grosseteste University

Why did you choose to study at the University of Nottingham?

The University of Nottingham has a strong reputation in this area.  

How has the course helped you in your career?

Completing the EdD has allowed me to apply for, and gain, a higher-level role. I now lead the MA Education at Bishop Grosseteste University (a doctorate was an essential part of the person specification for this role).

What do you want to do now you have completed your EdD? What are your plans for the future?

I plan to produce journal articles that are directly linked to my thesis.

Was there a particular aspect of the course you enjoyed the most/what was the best part of the course?

I really enjoyed the taught stage – working alongside a cohort of others and alongside module tutors was engaging and stimulating.  

How did you manage to balance employment while studying?

I was fortunate in that my employer allocated some time for me to undertake the EdD. I made use of the library as a space for writing that was away from home and work; this provided a ‘space’ to focus on my EdD and avoid distractions. 

How were you supported during your EdD?

The module tutors were extremely supportive in the taught stage, and my research supervisors were fantastic at offering support and challenging my thinking. Support for the ‘key moments’ of my EdD journey (eg cross-origin resource sharing submission, thesis submission and viva) was excellent and I felt very well prepared to undertake these. 

Why do you think students should come to the University of Nottingham to do the EdD?

The staff on the course are fantastic; they are knowledgeable and very supportive.   

Any advice for anyone thinking of starting the EdD? 

Speak to a member of the course team – I found this really useful before starting the course as it gave a good indication of what to expect! 

Rebecca Geeson

Year of graduation: 2022
Job: Programme Leader for UG Teacher Training at Bishop Grossteste University, Lincoln



 

Why did you choose to study at the University of Nottingham?

The reputation of the University of Nottingham as a leader in research motivated me to choose the EdD programme, along with the design of the programme which I felt would fit in well alongside my work. 

I also liked the idea of following in the footsteps of my father and grandmother who both completed their masters degrees in education with the university.

How has the course helped you in your career?

I have recently secured a promotion, and I like to think that having the doctorate contributed to that! 

However, the focus of my study has had a huge impact on my current role – and what we offer to our students. The insight I gained into the lives of one group of trainee teachers has prompted us to redesign our degree programme for them, and also introduce a new degree programme to support similar potential trainee teachers earlier in their journey to qualified teacher status.

What do you want to do now you have completed your EdD? What are your plans for the future?

I am continuing my career in the same field – initial teacher education, currently within the HEI sector. While gaining a doctorate was not required as part of my current role, job opportunities with higher pay in my field tend to require a doctorate, so I feel more doors are open for me in the future.

Was there a particular aspect of the course you enjoyed the most/what was the best part of the course?

The structure of the course really helped me – having deadlines for assignments in the early part of the course ensured I was on track. I think that working with others in my cohort in EdD weekends ensured I had a peer support network, as well as support from lecturers, and this also helped me remain motivated. Once the taught part of the course was complete, I felt I was well prepared to complete my research, so felt it was achievable.

How did you manage to balance employment while studying?

This was something I was concerned about at the start of the course, but I found that I was able to balance a busy full-time job alongside my study and family commitments. By choosing to focus on something that was very relevant to my job, I felt work helped with the EdD and the EdD helped with work. Admittedly, there were times when everything happened at once, but my supervisors were very flexible and understood when sometimes planned dates for completing various tasks had to be delayed!

How were you supported during your EdD?

My supervisors, Bernie Youens and Andy Townsend, were amazing. They were supportive and very knowledgeable and always knew how to ensure I was heading in the right direction without taking over (something I have heard about happening for others at other universities!). They really inspired me to remain motivated and gave me the confidence to submit and complete my viva. Every lecturer that we worked with during the taught stage brought different, relevant and interesting perspectives to our study.

I also felt very supported by others on my cohort – there were six of us in our cohort and we have all now successfully completed our EdDs but continue to meet up regularly.

Why do you think students should come to the University of Nottingham to do the EdD?

For me, I felt I was very well supported, had access to excellent world-leading researchers, graduated with a doctorate from an internationally respected institution and made some great friends along the way. I don’t think I could have asked for anything more!

Any advice for anyone thinking of starting the EdD?

Do it! With careful consideration and guidance, focussing on a research topic that will support both your completion of the programme and your work, will have long term benefits for your career.

Tara Webster-Deakin

Year of graduation: 2022
Job: Widening Participation Manager/Assistant Professor, School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies, University of Nottingham

Why did you choose to study at the University of Nottingham?

I was working at the university and so it felt like I was in the right place at the right time of my life to re-engage with studying. For me, it was important to be able to meet my supervisor face-to-face so being local to the university was a big advantage.

How has the course helped you in your career?

My role has evolved in ways I could never have foreseen when starting the EdD. Ironically, my research wanted to understand better the attitudes and behaviours of academic staff, and, as part of my parallel progression and development, I am now a part-time academic member of staff! In addition to this, I feel better equipped to contribute to university strategy, policy and practice in multiple ways. The process of undertaking research has helped me to recognise the expertise I brought with me to the university, and the confidence to draw on that to influence teaching and learning in the school. 

What do you want to do now you have completed your EdD? What are your plans for the future?

I am hoping to simply breathe in and out for a year before making any major plans! Seriously, though, my plans are to continue to research, ideally in partnership with other researchers in the action research field, and to seek out university opportunities which make the best use of my multi-faceted role. 

How did you manage to balance employment while studying?

It was tough. I re-negotiated my hours (4.5 days) down to 4 days so that I had Friday “free” every week for study and research. That did not always pan out, of course, but it was an advantage. Even with that, finding the head space after a busy week at work or amidst family or personal challenges was taxing. I simply tried to keep
putting one foot in front of the other.

How were you supported during your EdD?

I was well supported by my supervisors and by staff on the course in terms of both the evolution of my thesis and in connecting me to research communities and opportunities which have helped me grow as a researcher. In particular, Andy Townsend encouraged me to present at conferences and submit an article proposal for an international journal. To my surprise and delight, this was accepted, and I was awarded the "Promising New Action Research Writer" prize at the 2017 Collaborative Action Research Network (CARN) international conference. 

Our EdD cohort also formed our own network of peer support after the taught phase and we have continued to cheerlead each other until we have all completed.

Why do you think students should come to the University of Nottingham to do the EdD?

The course is well structured and provides the scaffolding needed to move from masters level study to doctoral level. For students such as I, returning to study after a couple of decades, this is a gentle way into the doctoral process and stimulates and provokes our thinking at an early stage. For me it was a no-brainer as I am based in Nottingham; for others I would say that the weekend seminars provide a good introduction to your peers and the course, and that the staff are well-informed and very supportive. 

Any advice for anyone thinking of starting the EdD?

Think about it and how it will fit around your life first. But then…go for it! For me it has been transformational.

Jill Berry

Year of graduation: 2016
Job: Education consultant

Why did you choose to study at the University of Nottingham?

I had just stepped down from headship and decided that one of the things I wanted to do in the ‘post-career’ phase of my life was further study. I had completed a masters degree 15 years into my career, and this was 15 years later. I looked at the PhD and EdD programmes and chose the latter, and I investigated three local universities (I live in Newark and wanted to study close to home) and chose the University of Nottingham. I have absolutely no regrets about either choice. 

How has the course helped you in your career?

I had a very satisfying 30-year career in schools and was a head teacher for the last ten years and I wanted to do something different. Completing the EdD led to a number of opportunities – writing about my research journey and contributing to events such as BELMAS and #ResearchEd where I talked about research and/or leadership. I also wrote a book based on my research, ‘Making the Leap – Moving from Deputy to Head’ (Crown House, 2016), which has opened up many other doors for me.   

Was there a particular aspect of the course that you enjoyed the most?

I particularly enjoyed being part of a cohort and learning with and from other course members. All of them were involved in education, and committed to learning more, but their areas of expertise weren’t necessarily in school leadership, which helped me to broaden my horizons. It was humbling to learn from others studying alongside me, and to have the opportunity to support each other, too. 
 
I also really appreciated the support and encouragement of the course tutors, and especially my thesis supervisors Andy Noyes and Andy Townsend. They were brilliant.  

What was the best part of the course?

Although completing the research, and crafting my thesis, was challenging I enjoyed this part of the post-graduate process, especially pulling everything together in the final weeks and months. 

What do you want to do now you have completed your degree? What are your plans for the future?

My plans are to continue to speak and write about educational leadership, bolstered by my further study and everything I learnt on my doctoral journey. I currently work as a leadership development consultant, and my doctorate gives me additional credibility in this field. I will continue to do this while I find it fulfilling and enjoyable.  

Were you in employment while you were studying? How did you manage to balance both?

I worked as a self-employed consultant throughout my doctoral studies, and I also worked as an Associate for the National College of Teaching and Leadership for several years.  
 
By the end of my first year of the EdD I had chosen the transition from deputy headship to headship as my research focus. At the National College, and in my consultancy capacity, I was working with aspiring and serving leaders at all levels, supporting them in their current roles and helping them to progress their career, as appropriate. There was a satisfying synergy between my doctoral studies and my paid employment. I often found that the reading I was doing generated insights and materials I could use in my work, and working with leaders in schools, especially those who were preparing to step up to headship in due course, fed into my research. Juggling study and work was a satisfying and productive challenge, rather than a chore.  

Why do you think students should come to the University of Nottingham to study this course?

It is a well-designed, challenging, stimulating and rewarding course, with excellent teaching input and support from the University staff. I also enjoyed working with a cohort, rather than the potentially more isolating PhD journey. I developed a wide range of research and study skills over the course of the five years during which I completed the qualification part-time. 

Is there anything else you would like to add about the course or your time at the University of Nottingham?

I would strongly recommend it, especially if you’re a (very) mature student like me, who is looking for something satisfying and productive to involve yourself in during life after full-time employment.