Muir Houston

A sociologist by training, he has research interests in adult and lifelong learning, including the development and implementation of learning cities and regions; aspects of the contemporary student experience including access, retention, progression and performance, and issues of widening participation and inequality of opportunity. In addition, he has research interests in the career and educational motivations and aspirations of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. He is proficient in qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research often with an emphasis on advanced quantitative techniques including considerable experience of case study comparative research. A number of coherent strands underpin his research interests as indicated in the list of outputs. The first and perhaps major strand can be said to encompass all aspects of the contemporary student experience - as evinced by my work on the SOMUL project - (built on interests in access, Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning), particularly issues of retention, progression and performance (Doctoral thesis and other outputs); and specifically entry to medicine. This is linked, through my involvement in the WHAN and JRF funded projects to research interests in the career and educational aspirations, motivations and choices of young adults particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Much of this is distinguished by the adoption of advanced quantitative analysis. The second strand relates to Learning cities/regions and how they can be harnessed to address specific EU priorities in relation to civic engagement, social inclusion, education and training, employability and regional development.