SRHE International Research Conference

In December 2025 a large contingent of School of Education colleagues attended and presented their work at the annual Society for Research into Higher Education conference, one of the largest UK-based events that focuses on all aspects of higher education research. 

Our doctoral researcher colleagues presented their early findings, including:

• JiaXin Bao (with co-authors Richard Doyle and David Murphy)  - Chinese students’ experiences of studying in UK universities regarding cultural orientations and students’ mental well-being
• Siyu Yuan - the influence of family values on female students access to higher education
• Ziman Zhou - the gendered dynamics in academic career progression

Kathleen Pithouse‑Morgan offered two sessions on creative and self‑reflexive scholarship which together, advocated for more humane, creative, and community‑oriented academic practices: 

• Poetic ways of knowing: Reimagining literature reviewing as a compassionate, collegial, and community‑oriented practice (with co‑author Nguyen Phuong Le)
• Poetic self‑study scholarship for sompassion, sollegiality and sommunity” (with co‑authors Daisy Pillay and Inbanathan Naicker). 

Manny Madriaga examined leadership and institutional culture through exploring hope for anti-racist change, highlighting the emotional and political complexities of driving systemic reform. 

 
Manny Madriaga's presenting at the conference

Rita Hordosy and Siyu Yuan (with co-author Daria Luchinskaya) co-presented their findings from a systematic review on research skills as experienced by university students and graduates. Rita also discussed the results from an SRHE-funded project run jointly with Elizabeth Brown, Anto Maria Vega Castillo and Martin Myers on how editorial boards are structured in the field of higher education, with scholarly networks influencing what becomes recognised as legitimate knowledge in the field. 

Farhana Ghaffar presented on a co-production project that brought together doctoral students of colour to explore experiences of (un)belonging within academia. 

Zihao Liu and co-presenter Xinyue Guo discussed their research around transition barriers, focusing on academic support mismatches in Chinese higher education. Zihao was also announced as the joint recipient of the SRHE’s prestigious Scoping Award. 

Zihao Liu giving his presentation

Beyond co-authoring a paper with Imene Kassous using the work of Jacques Rancière to explore narrative research, Charlie Davis was also a member of the panel celebrating 60 years of the Society’s history. Charlie was one of four recipients of the SRHE Newer Researchers awards who showcased their journey, illustrating the impact that this opportunity has had for them, and how it continues to shape their contributions to the field of HE research. Charlie discussed his SRHE funded project Academics of Working Class Heritage Talking.  

Charlie Davis presenting in the panel with other award recipients, Heidi Mirza, Kelly Coate and Camille Kandiko Howson

The Higher Education Futures SIG operates across both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University and beyond, keeping in touch with former graduates elsewhere, so our staff were delighted to meet and hear from other colleagues during the event.