Steve Woodfield

Associate Professor

My role combines a main focus on undertaking policy-related research and consultancy projects in higher education (HE) studies with contribution to postgraduate degrees and training programmes in the field HE studies within LTEC, and capacity-building in HE research at Kingston University via the Kingston Education Research Network (KERN).

I joined Kingston University in 2007 after spending five years as a research fellow in the Centre for Policy and Change in Tertiary Education at the University of Surrey. I have also worked in the market research sector (1998–2002) and as a researcher in medical education at King's College London from 1995 to 1998.

Leadership and management

I am a theme leader (higher education policy and management) in Kingston University's Educational Research Network (KERN) which focuses on capacity-building and development activities for staff across the University that have an active interest in researching higher education policy and practice. As part of this role I am a member of the LTEC Research Ethics Committee. I am also a member of the institutional Black and Minority Ethnic Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Project steering group; the Institutional Research at Kingston University committee (IR@KU). I am LTEC faculty liaison for the Kingston University's Kingston Business School, responsible for supporting the Faculty's engagement with the LTEC collaboratory. I also contribute to the development Kingston University's internationalisation strategy and undertake regular institutionally focused research projects for university senior management.

Teaching

I teach on the Higher Education Research and Practice MA. I am also a visiting lecturer on the UCL Institute of Education's Higher Education Management MBA.

External roles

• Co-chair of Network Planning Group and Annual Conference Steering Group – UK and Ireland Higher Education Institutional Research Network (HEIR)
• Academic associate – Higher Education Academy (HEA)
• Visiting fellow – Centre for Academic Practice and Research in Internationalisation (CAPRI), Leeds Metropolitan University
• International Expert Group – International Association of Universities (IAU)
• Ranmore fellow – Ranmore Consulting Limited
• Associate – CHEMS Consulting
• Associate – Curtis and Cartwright Consulting
• Editorial Board – Higher Education Quarterly
• Journal reviewer – Higher Education Quarterly, Tertiary Education and Management, Public Management Review, Educational Review, International Journal of Lifelong Learning, International Journal of Educational Management

Qualifications

• Current: MPhil/PhD (part time), Institute of Education, University College London. Topic: Multi-institutional International Strategic Alliances in UK Higher Education: the Role of Institutional Strategy
• 1997–99: Applied Social and Market Research MA (Distinction), University of Westminster. Modules included: Social & Market Research Practice
• 1993–94: Political Philosophy – The Idea of Toleration MA, University of York
• 1990–93: Politics BA(Hons) (2:1), University of Hull

Professional memberships

• Association of University Administrators (AUA)
• Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE)
• European Higher Education Society (EAIR)

Grants/projects funded

I have recently completed two research reports for the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) on the wider benefits of recruiting international students, and on the value of transnational education (TNE) to the UK. My current research projects are focused on employability in UK transnational education (TNE) (for the Higher Education Academy), students' perspectives on the benefits and outcomes of outward mobility (for the UK HE International Unit and the British Council) and on the role of employer engagement in STEM education in UK HEIs (for the University Alliance and the University of Lincoln).

Consultancy

I act as an external consultant on policy development and evaluation projects in his areas of expertise for other universities, government departments, and policy organisations including the British Council, HEFCE, and the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. Most recently, in 2015, I undertook consultancy on behalf of the International Association of Universities (IAU) to support the development of the internationalisation strategy of the Ho Chi Minh University of Transport in Vietnam.

Research interests

I undertake a range of policy and management focused research in the areas outlined below. I have specialist expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research approaches, and a range of research methods and analysis techniques.

International higher education

• Conceptual development (e.g. internationalisation, transnational education)
• Developing internationalisation policy and strategy at the institutional and national levels
• The nature and impact of international collaborations and partnerships
• Quality assurance and regulation in cross-border and transnational education
• Trends and issues in international student mobility
• The contribution of international staff to internationalisation

Leadership, management and governance in higher education

• Leadership, top management and governance structures
• Strategies to enhance employer engagement in education and research
• Institutional strategy development and implementation
• Strategic support for senior managers (policy, institutional research, planning)

Other UK higher education policy themes

• The development of private provision and public-private partnerships in UK HE
• National higher education funding policy mechanisms
• Curriculum redesign for flexible learning and e-learning
• Widening access to, and participation in, higher education.

Publications

Publications include monograms and conference/keynote presentations – read more in Kingston University's Research Repository (a digital archive of published research produced by Kingston University staff and researchers).

Contact details

• Email: s.woodfield@kingston.ac.uk