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Dr Qing Gu

Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences

Contact

  • workRoom C5 Dearing
    Jubilee Campus
    Wollaton Road
    Nottingham
    NG8 1BB
    UK
  • work0115 951 4538
  • fax0115 951 4416

Biography

Dr Qing Gu is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Research in Schools and Communities in the School of Education. She is the Vice Chair of the British Association for International and Comparative Education (BAICE), a member of the Editorial Board of the British Educational Research Journal, a member of the Compare Editorial Board and Reviews Editor of the International Journal of Educational Development. She is also a Research Fellow at the Asia Pacific Centre for Leadership and Change (APCLC) at the Hong Kong Institute of Education. Her research interests are teacher professional development, school leadership and improvement and intercultural learning.

Since she joined the University of Nottingham on completion of her PhD (Birmingham) in 2004, Dr Qing Gu has contributed to the success of a range of international and national research projects as Director, Co-Director and lead researcher, including an ESRC project on international students' experiences in UK higher education, a British Academy project on the impact of study abroad experiences on the returnees' work and lives, a HEFCE project on university-school partnerships and two government-funded large scale research projects on teachers' work and lives and school leadership. She was co-director of two ESRC seminar series, with one on teacher resilience and the other on the needs of international students. She is currently leading an ERSC-RGC project on policy enactment in secondary schools in England and Hong Kong and a Department for Education funded project on the evaluation of teaching schools in England.

She is author of Teacher Development: Knowledge and Context (Continuum, 2007), and co-author of Teachers Matter (Open University Press, 2007), The New Lives of Teachers (Routledge, 2010), Successful School Leadership: Linking with Learning and Achievement (Open University Press, 2011), Resilient Teachers, Resilient Schools (Routledge, forthcoming), and an original paper on mixed methods research published in Educational Researcher in 2008.

Research Summary

  • As Principal Investigator and Director

2013-5 The Evaluation of Teaching Schools; Department for Education (£247,480.69)

2012-4 Reshaping Educational Practice for Improvement in Hong Kong and England: How Schools Mediate Government Reforms; Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) project (£110,157)

2010 Prime Minister's Initiative for International Education (PMI2) Partnership Development Grants; British Council (£2,000)

2008-9 The Impact of UK Educational Experiences on Chinese Returnees' Lives and Careers; British Academy project (£7,338)

2006-8 A Comparative Study of International Students' Intercultural Experiences; Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) project (£71,679)

2008 Exploring the Impact of Involvement in NCSL Activity on School Improvement: A Qualitative Study of Secondary Schools; National College for School Leadership (NCSL) project (£10,000); Co-director: Professor Pam Sammons (University of Nottingham)

  • As Co-Investigator:

2010-11 A Multi-Disciplinary Inquiry into the Nature and Forms of Workplace Resilience: Teacher Retention and Effectiveness in Times of Change; Economic and Social Science Research Council (ESRC) Seminar Series (£13,893)

2009 Partnerships for education, well-being and work: models of university service in the community; Higher Education Funding Council for England (£52,381)

2008-9 Rethinking the Needs of International Students: Critical Perspectives on the Internationalisation of UK Higher Education Institutions; Economic and Social Science Research Council (ESRC) Seminar Series (£14,880)

2006-8 Exploring the Impact of Involvement in NCSL Activity on School Improvement; National College for School Leadership (NCSL) project (£119,553)

Recent Publications

  • GU, Q. and DAY, C., 2013. Challenges to teacher resilience: conditions count British Educational Research Journal. 39(1), 22-44
  • GU, Q. and JOHANSSON, O., 2013. Sustaining school performance: school contexts matter International Journal of Leadership in Education: Theory and Practice. (In Press.)
  • 2012. The impact of study abroad on the student self . University World News. 01/29/2012 00:00:00
  • GU, Q., REA, S., HILL, R. AND PARISH, N., 2012. Eight Modest Claims on Leadership for Learning through Inter-School Partnership: Evidence from the Literature NCSL.

Qing is a member of the Centre for Research in Schools and Communities. Her research supervision areas include:

  • teacher professional development
  • mixed methods educational research
  • school leadership and development
  • intercultural teaching and learning

Research proposals: please email Qing if you would like to discuss the appropriateness of your research topic. See also: School of Education research supervision areas.

Past Research

Dr Qing Gu joined the University of Nottingham as a research officer on the Department for Education and Skills funded national study on variations in teachers' work, lives and effectiveness in 2004. She was also also a member of the research team evaluating the London Leadership Strategy (2005-2006), a lead researcher on a Socrates funded Comenius European nine country project on successful leadership of schools in challenging urban contexts (2005-8) and a lead researcher on the Department for Education funded project on the impact of school leadership on pupil outcomes (2006-9).

  • GU, Q. and DAY, C., 2013. Challenges to teacher resilience: conditions count British Educational Research Journal. 39(1), 22-44
  • GU, Q. and JOHANSSON, O., 2013. Sustaining school performance: school contexts matter International Journal of Leadership in Education: Theory and Practice. (In Press.)
  • 2012. The impact of study abroad on the student self . University World News. 01/29/2012 00:00:00
  • GU, Q., REA, S., HILL, R. AND PARISH, N., 2012. Eight Modest Claims on Leadership for Learning through Inter-School Partnership: Evidence from the Literature NCSL.
  • SAMMONS, P, GU, Q and DAY, C. AND YUE, J. K., 2011. Exploring the impact of school leadership on pupil outcomes: a study of academically improved and effective schools in England International Journal of Educational Management. 25(1), 83-101
  • GU, Q. and BROOKS, J., 2011. Beyond the accusation of plagiarism. In: PHAN LE HA and B. BAURAIN, eds., Cross Cultures: Journeys in ESL/EFL Writing Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
  • GU, Q. and SCHWEISFURTH, M., 2011. Editorial: Re-thinking University Internationalisation: towards transformative change Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice. 17(6), 611-617
  • DAY, C, SAMMONS, P, LEITHWOOD, K, HOPKINS, D, GU, Q. AND BROWN, E and WITH AHTARIDOU, E., 2011. Successful School Leadership: Linking with Learning and Achievement Open University Press.
  • GU, Q., 2011. Managing Change and Transition: Chinese students’ experiences in British Higher Education. In: J. RYAN, ed., Higher Education in Contemporary China Routledge.
  • GU, Q., 2011. An Emotional Journey of Change: The Case of Chinese Students in UK Higher Education. In: L. JIN AND M. CORTAZZI, ed., Researching Chinese Learners - Skills, Perceptions and Intercultural Adaptations Palgrave Macmillan.
  • GU, Q., 2011. Sustaining the Passion for Learning: The Meaning of Capacity Building in Practice. In: J. MCBEATH AND T. TOWNSEND, ed., International Handbook on Leadership for Learning Routledge.
  • GU, Q., 2010. Knowledge in Context: Whose Knowledge and for What Context?. In: P. THOMSON & M. WALKER, ed., The Routledge Doctoral Students' Companion: Getting to Grips with Research in Education and Social Sciences Routledge.
  • GU, Q and SCHWEISFURTH, M. & DAY, C., 2010. Learning and Personal Growth in a 'Foreign' Context: Intercultural Experiences of International Students Compare. 40(1), 7-23
  • CHRISTOPHER DAY, PAM SAMMONS, ALMA HARRIS, DAVID HOPKINS, KENNETH LEITHWOOD, QING GU, ELEANOR BROWN, 2010. Ten Strong Claims for Successful School Leadership in English Schools NCSL.
  • GU, Q., 2010. Variations in Beliefs and Practices: Teaching English in Cross-cultural Contexts. Language and Intercultural Communication. 10(1), 32-53
  • DAY, C. and GU, Q., 2010. The new lives of teachers Routledge.
  • CHRISTOPHER DAY, PAM SAMMONS, DAVID HOPKINS, ALMA HARRIS, KENNETH LEITHWOOD, QING GU, ELEANOR BROWN, ELPHIDA AHTARIDOU AND ALISON KINGTON, 2009. Impact Of School Leadership On Pupil Outcomes – Research Brief Department for Children, Schools and Families.
  • CHRISTOPHER DAY, QING GU, JOANNA MCINTYRE,ELEANOR BROWN AND BOB CURTIS, 2009. Partnerships for Education, Well-being and Work: Models of University Service in the Community HEFCE.
  • SCHWEISFURTH, M. & GU, Q., 2009. Exploring the experiences of international students in UK Higher Education: possibilities and limits of interculturality in univeersity life. Special Issue of Intercultural Education. 20(5), 463-473
  • DAY, C. AND GU, Q., 2009. Teacher Emotions: Well Being and Effectiveness.. In: M. ZEMBYLAS AND P. SCHUTZ, ed., Teachers’ Emotions in the Age of School Reform and the Demands for Performativity. Springer. 15-31
  • DAY, C. and GU, Q., 2009. Veteran teachers: commitment, resilience and quality retention Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice. 15(4), 441-457
  • GU, Q. and SCHWEISFURTH, M. AND DAY, C., 2009. The Impact of UK Educational Experiences on Chinese Returnees’ Lives and Careers British Academy.
  • QING GU, MICHELE SCHWEISFURTH AND CHRISTOPHER DAY, 2009. A Comparative Study of International Students’ Intercultural Experiences: End of Award Report to the Economic and Social Research Council ESRC.
  • GU, Q., 2009. Maturity and Interculturality: Chinese Students' Experiences in UK Higher Education European Journal of Education. 44(1), 37-52
  • CHRISTOPHER DAY, PAM SAMMONS, DAVID HOPKINS, ALMA HARRIS, KENNETH LEITHWOOD, QING GU, ELEANOR BROWN, ELPHIDA AHTARIDOU AND ALISON KINGTON, 2009. Impact Of School Leadership On Pupil Outcomes: Final Report Department for Children, Schools and Families.
  • GU, Q., 2009. Editorial: The role of culture in English as an international language Special Issue of Language and Intercultural Communication. 9(3), 139-143
  • GU, Q. and MALEY, A., 2008. Changing places: a study of Chinese students in the UK Language and Intercultural Communication. 8(4), 224-245 (In Press.)
  • GU, Q and SAMMONS, P. & MEHTA, P., 2008. Leadership Characteristics and Practices in Schools with Different Effectiveness and Improvement Profiles. School Leadership and Management. 28(1), 43-63
  • GU, Q. AND BROOKS, J., 2008. Beyond the Accusation of Plagiarism System. 36(3), 337-352
  • GU, Q, SAMMONS, P and RICE, R. & GONZALEZ, M., 2008. Exploring the Impact of Involvement in NCSL Activity on Secondary School Improvement: A Qualitative Analysis of Inspection Reports Nottingham, NCSL. (In Press.)
  • SAMMONS, P and GU, Q. & ROBERTSON, D., 2008. Exploring Headteacher and Key Staff Perceptions of Leadership and School Improvement: A Quantitative Report: Phase 1 Questionnaire Survey Department for Children, Schools and Families.
  • DAY, C., SAMMONS, P., STOBART, G., KINGTON, A. and GU, Q., 2007. Teachers matter: connecting work, lives and effectiveness Maidenhead: Open University Press.
  • GU, Q., 2007. Teacher development: the role of knowledge and context New York: Continuum.
  • SAMMONS, P, MUJTABA, T and EARL, L. & GU. Q., 2007. Participation in Network Learning Community Programmes and Standards of Pupil Achievement: Does it make a difference? School Leadership and Management. 27(3), 213-238
  • GU, Q and SAMMONS, P. & GONZALEZ, M., 2007. Exploring the Impact of Involvement in NCSL Activity on Primary School Improvement Nottingham: NCSL. (In Press.)
  • MALEY, A. AND GU, Q., 2007. Changing places: a study of Chinese students in UK and their teachers.. In: LEE SU KIM, THANG SIEW MING & LEE KING SIONG, ed., Border Crossings Kuala Lumpur: Pelanduk Publications. 121-165
  • GU, Q., 2007. Enjoy Loneliness (in Chinese) Available at: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/china/studyintheuk/story/2007/03/070330_guqing_longliness.shtml>
  • SAMMONS, P., MATTHEWS, P., DAY, C. and GU, Q., 2007. Exploring the impact of aspects of the London Leadership Strategy. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk. 12(4), 425-439
  • DAY, C, SAMMONS, P, HOPKINS, D, HARRIS, A, LEITHWOOD, K, GU, Q, PENLINGTON, C, MEHTA, P and KINGTON, A., 2007. The Impact of School Leadership on Pupil Outcome: Interim Report No. DCSF-RR018 DCSF Publications. (978 1 84775 081 5)
  • DAY, C, SAMMONS, P.HOPKINS, D. HARRIS, A, LEITHWOOD, K, GU, Q, PENLINGTON, C, MEHTA, P and KINGTON, A., 2007. The Impact of School Leadership on Pupil Outcomes: DCSF Research Brief No. RB018, Nottingham DfES Publication. (978 1 84775 081 5)
  • GU, Q. and DAY, C., 2007. Teachers resilience: a necessary condition for effectiveness Teaching and Teacher Education. 23(8), 1302-1316
  • SAMMONS, P., DAY, C., KINGTON, A., GU, Q., STOBART, G. and SMEES, R., 2007. Exploring variations in teachers' work, lives and their effects on pupils: key findings and implications from a longitudinal mixed methods study British Educational Research Journal. 33(5), 681-701
  • GU, Q., 2006. Studying abroad: a transitional experience in life (in Chinese) Available at: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/china/studyintheuk/story/2006/10/061011_campus_guqing.shtml>
  • GU, Q and DAY, C, STOBART, G SAMMONS, P. & KINGTON, A., 2006. Variations in Teachers' Work, Lives and Effectiveness: The VITAE Project In: British Educational Research Association (BERA) Keynote Symposium, Warwick. (In Press.)
  • MATTHEWS, P., SAMMONS, P., GU, Q., DAY, C and SMITH, P., 2006. Supporting Leadership and Securing Quality: An Evaluation of the Impact of Aspects of the London Leadership Strategy NCSL.
  • DAY, C., STOBART, G., SAMMONS, P., KINGTON, A., GU, Q., SMEES, R. and MUJABA, T., 2006. Variations in Teachers' Work, Lives and Effectiveness! Final report for the VITAE Project. Department for Education and Skills, London.
  • GU, Q. and SCHWEISFURTH, M., 2006. Who adapts? beyond cultural models of 'the' Chinese learner Language, Culture and Curriculum. 19(1), 74-89
  • GU, Q. and SAMMONS, P., 2006. Exploring the Impact of Involvement in NCSL Activity on School Improvement NCSL.
  • DAY, C., SAMMONS, P., KINGTON, A., GU, Q. and STOBART, G., 2006. Methodological synergy in a national project: the VITAE story Evaluation and Research in Education. 19(2), 102-125
  • GU, Q., 2006. On the declining applications from China(in Chinese) Available at: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/china/studyintheuk/story/2006/06/060530_expertsview.shtml>
  • GU, Q., 2005. 'Enjoy Loneliness' - Understanding Chinese Learners' voices Available at: <www.htlmag.co.uk>
  • GU, Q., 2005. Intercultural Experience and Teacher Professional Development RELC Journal. VOL 36(NUMB 1), 5-22
  • FRANSON, C. and GU, Q., 2004. Let's begin from mutual understanding: ELT TT in cross-cultural settings TEACHER TRAINER. VOL 18(NUMB 2), 3-4
  • GU, Q., 2004. Intercultural experience and teachers' professional development Available at: <www.cels.bham.ac.uk/ELTED/Vol8/Vol8.htm>
  • GU, Q., 2003. Bridging belief gaps in ELT teacher education in cross-cultural settings IATEFL TTEd Special Interest Group Newsletter. 2, 18-23
  • GU, Q., 2003. Bridging belief gaps in ELT teacher education in cross-cultural settings IATEFL April 2003 Brighton Conference Selections. 100-101
  • GU, Q., 2003. Review of S.C. Chaudhary, Teaching English in Non-native Contexts, The English Teacher: An International Journal

School of Education

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