The BJET Fellowship is awarded to an individual with the most compelling proposal for a piece of research in the field of educational technology. The Fellowship lasts for one year and is worth £5,000.

The research is presented at the BERA Annual Conference and is expected to lead to the submission of an academic paper in BJET, as well as a piece for the BERA Blog and an opportunity to write an article for BERA’s magazine Research Intelligence.

Candidates for the award must be members of BERA at the time of nomination and remain so through the life of the Fellowship.

Applications are permitted from candidates at any career stage, but early career researchers are particularly encouraged to apply.

Judging criteria

Relevance

To the aims and scope of BJET and stated research theme; to the aims of BERA and the promotion of educational research.

Clarity

Of the research question(s); of the focus of research; of the proposal, and so on.

Quality

Was the research rigorous, ethical, well designed, and so on?

Significance

Would the research make a contribution to knowledge, theory building, methodology, practice or policy, and so on?

2025 winner

The 2025 BJET Fellowship was awarded to Peter Bannister  (Universidad Internacional de La Rioja.)

Peter’s research proposal, titled “A Critical Demystification of The Personalization of Learning and Other ChatGPT-Spun Fairytales in Cross-Cultural Higher Education,” stood out for its innovative and critical approach to exploring the role of generative AI (GenAI) in higher education. His research aims to challenge conventional narratives around AI-driven personalized learning by examining its pedagogical, socio-cultural, and ethical implications through rigorous mixed-methods research across institutions in Spain and the UK.

The judges also commended submissions from

• Xin Zhao (The University of Manchester)
• W. Febriantoro (University College London)

2023 winner

The theme for submissions for 2023 was ‘What role can Educational Technology play to achieve UN’s sustainable development goal four (SDG4)? (SDG4 is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.)’

The 2023 BJET Fellowship was awarded to Patrick Alexander (Oxford Brookes University) for his research proposal: Virtual Ecologies of Learning: Young People Re-dreaming Education in the Metaverse.

• Serdar Abaci
• Troy Meston

2021 winner

The theme for submissions for 2021 was ‘How can Edtech be used to respond to changing contexts of learning in response to emerging global challenges/events as increasing numbers of learners are out of school?’

The 2021 BJET Fellowship was awarded to Thomas Weatherby (Goethe-University, Frankfurt) for his research proposal: Development and Evaluation of a Web Application to Promote Student Collaboration in the Secondary Science Classroom

The editors would also like to highly commend the proposals made by the other shortlisted candidates,

• Shannon Ludgate
• Julia Sargent

2019 winner

The theme for 2019 submissions was ‘How can innovative digital data collection or analysis methods lead to methodological advancement in support of pedagogical change in technology-enhanced learning?’

The 2019 BJET Fellowship was awarded to Sharon Smith (University of Chester) for her research proposal: The use of online data collection methods to explore student perspectives on technology – enhanced learning and its role in establishing a voice for marginalised students abjected from mainstream education.

The editors would also like to highly commend the proposals made by the other shortlisted candidates, Francisco Iniesto (Open University) and Dr Katy Jordan (Open University).

2017 Winner

The theme for 2017 submissions was ‘How can innovative use of digital technology support pedagogical change / innovation in informal or formal learning contexts?’

Dr Alison Clark-Wilson (UCL Knowledge Lab) was awarded the fellowship for her research proposal: How do secondary mathematics departments scale their use of dynamic technologies within key stage 3 mathematics? – A situated view of teachers’ growth in knowledge and practice.

The editors also highly commended the proposals made by the other shortlisted candidates,

• Louis Major
• Mutlu Cukurova