Professor Sue Jackson

National Teaching Fellow 2013 Professor Sue Jackson left school at 15 and began her educational journey with an 'A' level at her local further education college, soon after the birth of her first child. After the birth of her second child she made the step into higher education as a mature student at the Open University, and went on to take a Masters in women's studies, then a PhD in women and education. She began her teaching career teaching 'fresh start, access' and 'new opportunities for women' courses at adult education centres and further education colleges before developing her career in higher education. Sue's experience of learning as a mature student has resulted in a passionate commitment to widening participation, social justice and to part-time, non-traditional students. These values are at the centre of Birkbeck, University of Londons mission and her appointment to the College in 2001 was a natural next step on her amazing, life-transforming journey. Sue is now one of Birkbeck's most senior academics, Professor of Lifelong Learning and Gender and Pro-Vice Master for Learning and Teaching. Her research interests concern equality, diversity and the development of lifelong learning for women and she believes that feminist pedagogies and perspectives are especially important in the potential for transformational change. She publishes widely in the field of gender and lifelong learning, with a particular focus on intersected identities. Sue's recent books include Challenges and inequalities in lifelong learning and social justice (Routledge, 2013); Lifelong learning and social justice (NIACE, 2011); Innovations in lifelong learning: critical perspectives on diversity, participation and vocational learning (Routledge, 2011) and Gendered choices: learning, work, identities in lifelong learning (Springer, 2011, with Irene Malcolm and Kate Thomas). Her current research includes 'A critical assessment of new ways of involving student mothers in higher education' (Nuffield Foundation, with Claire Callender). Sue's work explores the pedagogic challenges of developing transformative spaces for learning, teaching and assessment in higher education especially with regard to marginalised groups. Drawing on her own story, Sue particularly enjoys collaborative work that enables reflexive conversations and sharing of experiences, including at Birkbeck, nationally and internationally.