The British Academy announces funding for research into education in conflict and crisis contexts

The British Academy today announces the successful applicants to its Education Research in Conflict and Crisis – Bilateral Research Chairs programme.

This programme is funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and forms one part of a wider Education Research in Conflict and Protracted Crisis (ERICC) programme. ERICC is a six-year programme (2021-2027) with the objective of delivering and maximising uptake of new, operationally- and policy-relevant evidence on 'what works' to deliver education to children affected by conflict and protracted crises.

The award-holders are:

• Professor Kelsey Shanks, ‘The political economy of education in conflict-affected contexts’. University of Koya, Iraq and University of Ulster, UK.
• Dr Maha Shuayb, ‘Unpacking the industry of refugee education and research towards an equitable theory and practice’. University of Cambridge, UK and Centre for Lebanese Studies, Lebanon.
• Dr Justine Howard, 'A culturally embedded and play-based approach to supporting the mental health, development and education of displaced children affected by conflict and crisis'. BRAC University, Bangladesh, and Swansea University, UK.

As Bilateral Research Chairs, Professor Shanks, Dr Shuayb and Dr Howard will help to develop networks, mobility and exchange between institutions and will play an active role in developing the research capacity, profile and sustainability of the institutions involved and their future researchers. Delivering programmes of institutional strengthening, they will address the challenges of building research and institutional strength in areas of conflict and crisis. As a part of this work, they will also link with the main ERICC research consortium, led by the International Rescue Committee UK.

Professor Simon Goldhill, the British Academy’s Foreign Secretary & Vice-President, said:

'We are delighted to announce the funding of these two Bilateral Research Chairs. Through their work, the Chairs will help to enhance the ability of researchers and their institutions to analyse, research and evaluate education practice in areas of conflict and crisis, whilst also helping to diversify and expand the research undertaken in this area.

'The Chairs will address two important conflict-affected contexts, and I look forward to following their work, as well as the work of the wider ERICC programme, over the coming years.'