Professor Ian Davies

Profile

Biography

My long connection with York began with my undergraduate studies in History with Education, then with a masters and DPhil that focused on political education. Following 10 years away from York as a teacher in comprehensive schools in England, I joined the department as a Lecturer in Education in 1989.

At York, I was for over 8 years chair of the Board of Studies, founding chair of the Graduate School of Education, deputy head of department (including a period as acting head of department) and leader of the Centre for Research on Social Justice and Education (11 years). My teaching and supervision extended across all programmes with considerable PhD supervision. I have externally examined many PhD theses within the UK and beyond.

My research interests focus on how people learn and teach to promote understandings of, and engagement with, contemporary society. Externally funded research and development projects include:

• Canadian government (HRDC) and European Commission: teacher education for citizenship in Canada and the European Union;
• Training and Development Agency for Schools (UK Government): citizED (citizenship education)
• Esmée Fairbairn Foundation: Creating citizenship communities;
• Leverhulme Trust: Youth activism, engagement and the development of new civic learning spaces.

I have been an ‘expert on education for democratic citizenship’ for the Council of Europe and a consultant for governments and other bodies in many parts of the world. I am a Fellow of the Society of Educational Studies and Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. I have given key note lectures in many countries.

I have authored, co-authored or edited about 17 books and produced about 200 articles in peer reviewed journals with translations into several languages.