Connecting with a networked community of practice associated
with the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning
and the University Vocational Awards Council
Who are we?
Our Work & Learning Network (UALL) brings together people and professionals from Higher Education whose areas of specialism include programmes that merge professional practice and study that include paid and unpaid work informed by employers and workforces development. For us, work and learning is not confined to traditional business schools.
Our areas of expertise extend to, and beyond, areas including: Built Environment, Creative Industries, Social Care, Digital Technical Solutions, Health, Policing including interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary programmes within work-integrated learning such as degree apprenticeships, placements, internships, post-grad Masters, practitioner PhDs and professional doctorates, Continued professional Development and Skills, Vocational education routes within a broad range within lifelong learning landscape. Our main affiliation is UALL with affiliations through membership to UVAC, ESREA and many more professional and employment organisations.
Dr Paula McIver Nottingham
Dr Joanne Gosling
Dr Trevor Gerhardt ESREA
On the 8th of September 2026 a creative PGR research development workshop was delivered by Middlesex University London entitled: Capturing Critical Turning Points: Framing Interdisciplinary Discovery for Qualitative Research through Reflective Biographical and Visual Techniques.
The day was funded by the SENSS Doctoral Training Programme, sponsored by the SENSS Theme Lead Justice Institutions and Social Change (Professor Anastasia Christou) with leadership development by
Dr Paula McIver Nottingham (HSCE) and with conceptual contributions by colleagues across the BAL, HSCE and ACI Faculties including Dr Lisa Overton, Dr Evgenia Iliadou, PGR Flaviana Manta, and Dr Stefanie Sachsenmaier. Our visual recorder Ms Suzanne Lawrence took part to capture thinking and record insights.
The one day collaborative group workshop offered participants a unique research discovery experience using a range of guided creative techniques that explore researcher identity for reflexive qualitative research. The process emphasised developing strategies for interdisciplinary research that crosses boundaries while providing structure research to meet the standings and expectations for many social science research fields. Participants were invited to generate live conceptual material based on their own research aims that engaged with to the participant’s and group’s ability to touch upon uncomfortable but powerful discovery issues regarding gender, diversity, cultural background, geographical affiliation and displacement.