Teacher-Educator-Researchers and the Research Excellence Framework as Editor-Power
Event
Editing the (academic) author: teacher-educator-researchers and the Research Excellence Framework as editor-power
Thursday 22 January, 2026 – Thursday 22 January, 202612:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Online
Part of the School of Education Research Seminar Series 2025-26.
About the seminar
Academics working in university Education departments that offer Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes do so in a situation of competing tensions of accountability for them as teacher educators and educational researchers
In this seminar, Professor la Velle explores how the lack of ITE research being returned to the REF highlights ways in which the exercise acts as a powerful gatekeeper. Drawing on Foucault’s concept of the 'author function', Professor la Velle argues that the REF, as policy and discourse, acts as an editor-gatekeeper that shapes what counts as legitimate research, editing teacher educators as authors.
About the speaker
Linda la Velle is Professor of Education at Bath Spa's School of Education and Emeritus Professor at the Institute of Education, University of Plymouth.
Her personal research interests are in the areas of teacher education, professional development in general and science education, specifically, new technologies and ethical issues.
Linda is out-going Chair of the Research and International Committee of the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET) and Executive Editor of the Journal of Education for Teaching (JET).