Dr Andrew James Davies

Director of Postgraduate Studies and CPD. Lecturer in Education
BA (Hons), MA, PhD (Wales), PGCE. Photograph of Dr Andrew James Davies.

Contact

Email: ajd2@aber.ac.uk
Office: School of Education and Lifelong Learning, Aberystwyth University,P5 Penglais Campus , Aberystwyth, Ceredigion.SY23 3UX
Phone: 01970 628743 (Internal: 8743).

Teaching Areas

Dr Andrew James Davies lectures on the Education and Childhood Studies and degree schemes, specialising in modules relating to cultural diversity in education, work-based learning and early years policy. Prior to taking up his post at SELL, Andrew was previously a Research Associate at Cardiff University School of Social Sciences, and subsequently Senior Consultant at one of Wales’ leading social research agencies.

Research

Andrew is an active researcher with a wide range of both academic and applied research interests, including:

  • The Sociology of Education and Childhood.
  • Education, Bilingualism and Cultural Identity.
  • Childhood and Family Policy.
  • The Children and Young people’s workforce.
  • 14-19 Learning Networks.
  • Youth disaffection and Learning Provision for Young people who are, or are at risk of becoming, ‘NEET’.
  • The role of the third sector in learning provision.

Staff Publications

Below is a select list of academic publications.

Journal articles:

  • Davies, A. J. and Trystan, D. (2012) ‘Build it and They Shall Come?’ An Evaluation of Qualitative Evidence Relating to Student Choice and Welsh-Medium Higher Education.’ International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 15 (2): 147-164.
  • Drakeford, M., Scourfield, J., Holland, S. and Davies, A. (2009) ‘Welsh children’s views on government and participation.’ Childhood: A Journal of Global Child Research, 16 (2): 247-264.
  • Scourfield, J., Dicks, B. Holland, S., Drakeford, M. and Davies, A. (2006) ‘The significance of place in middle childhood: qualitative research from Wales.’ British Journal of Sociology, 57 (4): 577-95.
  • Scourfield, J. and Davies, A. (2005) ‘Children’s accounts of Wales as racialised and inclusive.’ Ethnicities 5, 1: 83-107.
  • Scourfield, J., Holland, S. and Davies, A. (2003), ‘Wales and Welshness in Middle Childhood’, Contemporary Wales 16, 83-100.

 

Books:

  • Scourfield, J., Dicks, B. Drakeford, M. and Davies, A. (2006) Children, Place and Identity: Nation and Locality in Middle Childhood, London, Routledge.

 

Policy and Applied Research Studies

Andrew has also led and worked on many applied research and evaluation projects for a number of public and third sector bodies, including the DfES at the Welsh Government, the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, Save the Children, the Welsh Language Board, Big Lottery, SkillsActive, Skills for Health and several Local Authorities. Below is a list of recent projects:

Young People, Disaffection and Inclusion

  • Evaluation of the Engage Project (Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, 2011-12).
  • Evaluation of Routes to the Summit (Urdd Gobaith Cymru, 2010).
  • Evaluation of Big Lottery Young People’s Fund (Big Lottery, 2007-09).
  • Evaluation of Schools Programme and Flexible Learning Inclusion Project (Neath Port Talbot CBC, 2008).
  • Evaluation of the Youth First Inclusion Programme (Carmarthenshire County Council, 2008).
  • ‘Learning and Work’: Research and Review of Vocational Training Provision at Supported Housing Projects for Young People in Wales (Welsh Assembly Government, 2003).
  • Evaluation of Powys Secondary Schools’ Inclusion Provision (Powys County Council, 2002).

 

Post-16 and Higher Education

  • ‘Dewis Da’: Research to Identify Good Practice in Encouraging Bilingual FE Students to continue studying through the medium of Welsh (Welsh Language Board, 2011-12).
  • Qualitative Research into the Factors that Influence Prospective Students’ Choice of Course and Medium in Higher Education Study (Welsh Language Higher Education Teaching Development Centre, 2008).
  • Research to Recognise and Reward Excellence in Post 16 Learning (Welsh Assembly Government, 2007).
  • ‘Dyfi Valley Pathfinder’: Identification of Attitudes and Views on Learning Provision (Welsh Assembly Government, 2006).

 

Childhood Policy

  • Evaluation of the Activities of the Wales Monitoring Group for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC Wales Monitoring Group, 2007).
  • Effective Programmes Consultancy: Monitoring Impact on Education and Poverty (Save the Children, 2007).

Children and Young People’s Workforce

  • A Workforce Development Plan to support delivery of Climbing Higher, Food & Fitness and Quality of Food (SkillsActive and Skills for Health, 2009).
  • Scoping the Mental Health Promotion Skills, Learning and Development needs of individuals and professionals working with Children and Young People (All-Wales Mental Health Promotion Network, 2009).
  • Development of Occupational Summary Sheets for the Children’s and Young People’s Workforce (Children’s Workforce Development Council, 2008).
  • Evaluation of Swansea Training Pathways: Professional Development Network for Youth work (Swansea Youth Service, 2008).
    • Researching Practitioners’ Experiences of the GTCW’s Professional Development Projects (GTCW, 2003).

 

The Third Sector and Learning Provision

  • Evaluation of the Social Risk Fund (WCVA, 2008).
  • Outcomes Evaluation Framework (NAVCA Improving Local Partnerships Unit, 2009).
  • Evaluation of the North Wales Labour Market Intermediary (WCVA, 2007).
  • Evaluation of Estyn Llaw (Welsh Language Board, 2007).