As part of our ambitious project examining the state of education: as an academic discipline in universities, as a field of practice, and as a significant and central element of social and political policy, we are releasing three new tender opportunities: 

• A survey of education researchers’ perceptions of their work and identities in relation to education research in universities in the United Kingdom.
• An analysis of equality and diversity issues within the discipline.
• An ‘observatory’ that draws together the best and most current empirical data on the state of the education discipline.

BERA wishes to commission an experienced team of researchers to carry out a survey of education researchers’ perceptions of their work and identities in relation to education research in universities. The purposes of the survey are to a) provide robust data about the state of education as an academic discipline in universities in the UK; b) examine the structures and processes that influence opportunity for, and engagement in, research activity for staff working in university education departments. The survey will permit insight into the current situation within the discipline of education in relation to the experiences of individuals undertaking educational research across the UK

The survey will need to ensure a balance of participants at different stages of their career including ECRs, across all four nations of the UK, and ensure ethnic diversity in the respondents. Areas of importance to BERA that the survey will need to address include different career stages (e.g. early, mid and late-stage); differences between the four nations of the UK; career mobility including international mobility within and outside the UK; ethnicity, sex, gender identity, dis/ability; employment contract type (casual/permanent, teaching/research).

The proposed survey design must also show awareness of the latest developments in survey design methods.

It is desirable that the survey is designed in such a way that this exercise can be replicated at regular intervals to monitor trends within the discipline so that it can contribute to a longitudinal study of the state of the discipline. 

Budget and Costing

Those wishing to tender for the work should include a budget indicating how the research will be conducted to meet the timeline for the interim and final reports; undertake the activities as indicated above; and successfully address the research questions. The amount allocated to this review is no more than £50,000, inclusive of VAT.

Full details of the tender and how to bid can be found in the document below.