profile

Dr Pallavi A Banerjee
Programme Director - MSc Educational Research
4778
+44 (0) 1392 724778
North Cloisters NC114
North Cloisters, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
Office hours: My office hours are online via Teams. To arrange a meeting please email me beforehand
Overview
I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and the Royal Society of Statistics (FRSS)
I lead the MSc Educational research programme at the Graduate School of Education which offers excellent research methods training and is sutable for those who want to pursue a doctorate, or progress to a research based job or think tanks. I am also the Research ethics and governamce officer and the Widening participation officer in the Graduate School of Education. I teach research methods to our post graduate taught and post graduate research students across various Masters modules in different programmes.
My research explores inequalities in education and educational outcomes across the life course. I focus on socioeconomic factors which influence educational outcomes for children and young people. As a quantitative researcher I make use of experimental and quasi experimental research designs, large-scale administrative datasets, and longitudinal surveys from a variety of sources.
I have recently completed work on three externaly funded research projects. One of these was funded by the ESRC and evaluates the fairness of admissions in the UK higher education sector. We have published one paper from this project reconceptualising fair access to highly academically selective universities and are working on the other publications.
The second project funded by the Office for Students (OFS) examined differential outcomes for BTEC students at the university and was called 'Transforming Transitions'. This project addressed the barriers to success in the educational trajectories of BTEC students between college and university and involved designing interventions to overcome these barriers. The final report has been submitted and can be accessed through the OfS website.
The other project aimed at Understanding effective evaluation of the impact of outreach interventions on access to higher education: phase two was also funded by the Office for Students. There are a series of publications from this project and should be read in conjunction with the following purposes: Access and participation standards of evidence or for using standards of evidence to evaluate impact of outreach or for the self-ssessment of evaluation Toolkit when seeking practical guidance on completing the tool.
For a full list of my publications see here
Information for prospective doctoral students
If you are equiring for doctoral supervision, please make sure your proposed research directly addresses one of the topics listed here is quantitative in nature, makes use of secondary data analysis, (quasi) experimental or longitudinal design, econometric analysis, or similar.
Employment
2017 onwards Senior Lecturer, Graduate School of Education, Exeter University
2016-17 Lecturer, Graduate School of Education, University of Exeter
2014-16 Post doctoral Research Assistant Durham University
2007-12 Vice Principal & Senior Academic In-charge, DPS International independent school, KSA
2005-07 Head of Biology, Delhi Public School India (KS4 and KS5 teacher)
2001-03 Science teacher DAV Public school India (KS3 teacher)
1999-2001 Teaching fellow MSc Genetics and Molecular Biology, India
1999-2001 Research Fellow, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
Qualifications
2016 PhD University of Durham (Education)
MSc, PGCE, PGCARMS, PhD, SFHEA
Links
Research group links
Research
Research interests
- Social mobility
- Inequalities in educational access
- Stratification in attainement and progression
- STEM education
- Graduate earnings and labour market outcomes
Key capabilities
- Secondary data analysis of population datasets and large linked datasets
- Regression modelling
- Evaluation
- Systematic reviews
- Software: SPSS (Expert), R
Research projects
A comparative analysis of post-16 learner outcomes and perspectives, GHWY, PI £15000
Mapping educational outcomes of students upon completion of higher education, PI £5000
Exploring the link between social class and STEM enrolment at University, GSE 2020-21, PI
Evaluating the reliability of SES measures in PISA, GSE pandemic research fund 2020-21
Evaluation of the Articulacy project, NCOP research - OfS via APP 2020-21, PI
Mapping HE progression by entry qualifications, SSIS strategic discretionary research fund 2018-19, PI
Evaluating the fairness of admissions to UK higher education, ESRC 2017-19, Co-I
Transforming transitions, OFS 2017-19, Co-I
Understanding effective evaluation of the impact of outreach interventions on access to higher education: phase two, OFS 2017-18, Co-I
ESRC Impact Acceleration Award PI £1600
Mapping and evaluating the use of contextual data in undergraduate admissions in Scotland Scottish Funding Council, 2015-16, Post-doctoral research associate Durham University
Getting students interested in science: What works? Projects & Initiatives Grants Scheme (Faculty of Social Sciences & Health) Durham University 2014-15, PI
Impact assessment of STEM initiatives in improving educational outcomes University of Durham, 2013-15, Doctoral project
Research grants
- 2017 ESRC
Evaluating the fairness of admissions to UK higher education - 2017 HEFCE
Transforming transitions - 2017 Office for Fair Access (OFFA)
Understanding effective evaluation of the impact of outreach interventions on access to higher education: phase two
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Publications by category
Books
Journal articles
Chapters
Conferences
Publications by year
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
Pallavi_Amitava_Banerjee Details from cache as at 2022-07-02 10:20:05
External Engagement and Impact
Invited lectures & workshops
Banerjee, P. A. (2020) Equivalent Qualifications. Society for Research in higher education SRHE
Banerjee, P. A. (2019) Transforming Transitions into University: Challenges and Possibilities. Addressing Barriers to Student Success. Organised by the Office for Students at Birmingham, OfS
Banerjee, P. A. (2019) Identifying challenges, barriers during the transition to higher education from different qualification routes. UCAS organized event at Manchester
Banerjee, P. A. (2018) Data sharing and protection for a multi-partner project. Addressing barriers to student success. Office for Students, London
Banerjee, P. A. (2018) Development and evaluation of an academic writing intervention to improve BTEC students’ understanding of higher education assessment criteria through a collaborative FE-HE approach. Advance HE - Equality Challenge Unit, Liverpool
Banerjee, P. A. (2017) Why evaluate? A widening participation symposium. Event organized by Office for Students at the University of Sheffield
Journal and book series Editorships and Editorial board membership
Editor: Journal of Global Education and Research
Banerjee, P. A., & Myhill, D. (Editors.). (2019). Transitions from Vocational Qualifications to Higher Education: Examining Inequalities. Book. Emerald Group Publishing.
Media Coverage
Mountford-Zimdars, A and Banerjee, P. (2021) The social mobility index (SMI): A welcome and invitation to debate. SRHE Blog. Society for research in higher education.
Elliott-Major, Lee. and Banerjee, P. (2020) Social mobility and elite universities. Higher Education Policy Institute, HEPI report 20
Banerjee PA (2018). How likely are BTEC students to enter higher education? Society for Research in Higher Education.
Banerjee PA (2018). How successful are BTEC students at the University? Wonkhe.
STEM activities do not seem to encourage students to make STEM subject choices for AS/A levels Medical research.com
Flash Physics: Antiprotons from dark matter, lab visits do not inspire, CERN's new linac, Australia at ESO. IOP Physics world
Oops...no evidence that enrichment activities encourage pupils to study STEM A levels. From experience to meaning
Inspiring role models ‘do not boost uptake of Stem subjects’ The I news
Banerjee, P. A (2017) Assessing the impact of STEM initiatives in improving educational outcomes – have they worked? New BERA blog
Banerjee, P. A. (2017) Students enjoy science at school, but most still don't see it as a career option. The Conversation
STEM Enrichment activities have no impact on exam results." Science Daily, 15 December 2016.
Republished here ECN mag Eureka alert
Banerjee, P. A (2016) STEM Enrichment Activities Did Not Improve Math or Science Scores. Medical research
Banerjee, P. A (2016) Enrichment activities to encourage children to study science, technology and mathematics have no impact on results. University of Exeter - Research news
Banerjee, P. A (2016) STEM activities have no impact on results. Newswise
Republished here Phys.org and Health Medicine network
Banerjee, P. A (2015) Can schemes to inspire tomorrow’s scientists close the poverty attainment gap? The Conversation
Banerjee, P. A (2015) Why we need more diversity in maths and science? World Economic Forum
Significant Impact
Written evidence submitted to UK Parliament
Report submitted to the Department for Education:
Impact assessment of STEM enrichment and enhancement activities in improving educational outcomes
Teaching
I lead the MSc Educational research programme at the Graduate School of Education which offers excellent research methods training and is sutable for those who want to pursue a doctorate, or progress to a research based job or think tanks. I am also the Research ethics and governamce officer and the Widening participation officer in the Graduate School of Education. I teach research methods to our post graduate taught and post graduate research students across various Masters modules in different programmes.
2021-22
MSc Educational research - ERPM002 Scientific methodologies (Modue lead)
MSc ERPM004 Dissertation (Module lead)
MA EFPM013Z1 Autumn - spring iteration (Module lead)
MSc Educational research - ERPM005 Designing and Communicating Research
MA - EFPM 308 Preparing for educational research and dissertation
MA - EFPM327 Independent study module
2020-21
MSc - ERPM005 Designing and Communicating Research: I lead the session on Evaluation design
MSc - ERPM002 Scientific methodologies
MSc ERPM004 Dissertation (Module leader)
MA EFPM013Z3 SP21A Preparing for Educational Enquiry (Summer term)
MA Core 4: Undertaking Educational Enquiry (Autumn term)
MA - EFPM 308 Preparing for educational research and dissertation
2019-20
MSc - ERPM005 Designing and Communicating Research: I lead the session on Evaluation design
MSc - ERPM002 Scientific methodologies
MA Core 3: Preparing for Educational Enquiry (Module leader Spring term)
MA Core 4: Undertaking Educational Enquiry
MA - EFPM 308 Preparing for educational research and dissertation
MA - EFPM327 Independent study module (Module leader)
Office hours
To arrange a meeting or drop-in session please email me.
Modules
2021/22
Supervision / Group
Research Fellows
- Gemma Given
- Kristi Dingwall
Postdoctoral researchers
- Halima Aliouche
- Nurullah Eryilmaz
- Chui Fan Lee
Postgraduate researchers
- Sumaiya Al Bulushi PhD student exploring the implementation of Environmental Education for Sustainable Development in Science Curriculum in Oman. This project has been funded by the Ministry of Education Oman
- Saadyah Alaskari PhD student investigating Mathematics Teachers’ Perceptions of STEM in Saudi Arabia. This project has been funded by the Ministry of Education Saudi Arabia
- Bushra Ahmed M Areashi PhD student exploring implementation of the Integrated Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics curriculum in Early Childhood Education in Saudi Arabia. This project has been funded by the Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia
- Yanyao Deng PhD student exploring Learners’ feedback preferences and their cognitive styles
- Amanda Rigg PhD student investigating whether key underachieving groups perform differently in terminal assessment versus continuous assessment systems
- Zhimin Shen PhD student exploring academic relationships between lecturers and learners and strategic adaptations facilitating learning
- Mehmet Hafiz Yildiz PhD student exploring students and lecturers perspectives of and attitudes towards feedback. This project has been funded by the Turkish Government
Alumni
- Jill Noakes
- Ming Zhong