Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies
School of Social Sciences
ZHCES Seminar Series
Mixing methods to enable research impact
Dr. Benjamin Matthew Alcott
Associate Professor, UCL Institute of Education
&
Dr Jwalin Patel
Cofounder and Codirector of Together In Development & Education (TIDE) Foundation
Abstract: This session will focus on how to mix research methods (both quantitative and qualitative) to enhance our understanding of education policies and enable greater impact in improving them. Our main concern is that research that focuses too much on a single method and/or speaking primarily to academic audiences will typically struggle to effect real change in policy and practice related to teaching. We will share experiences from recent projects, including on teacher agency in Bihar, and aim for this to be an interactive seminar in which attendees are enabled to share their own experiences and opinions.
Bio: Dr Benjamin Matthew Alcott is an Associate Professor at the UCL Institute of Education. His research focuses primarily on global education policy, especially in South Asia and East Africa. Dr Alcott’s methodological expertise lies in econometrics, mixed methods, and longitudinal research designs. He received his PhD in Higher Education Policy from the University of Michigan. Previously, Dr Alcott has held academic positions at the University of Cambridge and was a Senior Research Officer at UNESCO.
Dr Jwalin Patel is a research scholar who has been working in the education developmental sector for the last 15 years. His research (as an associate professor at University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, and previously as postdoc, PhD, and MPhil at University of Cambridge, UK) focuses on systems and implementation research for holistic education, education for harmony, and social emotional learning. He is also the cofounder and codirector of Together In Development & Education (TIDE) Foundation, a grassroots organization, which runs several programs including education direct education provision, teacher empowerment, school improvement, and development of learning materials for activity-based learning and education as/for/through social justice.
DATE: 01 August, 2025 (Friday)
TIME: 03.00pm
Venue: #207, SSS-II
(All are Welcome)