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Brendan Coulson

Head of Technical Education

Directorate

Dr Brendan Coulson is the Head of Technical Education

Role

Dr Brendan Coulson BSc (Hons) PGCE QTLS MALTE ATS CTeach FSET PFHEA PhD

Head of Technical Education

Leading the development of higher technical skills based courses, advising on technical educational policy, and skills pedagogy.

Career overview

Having trained in Nottingham as a Computing lecturer, Brendan spent 11 years within teaching and also has held senior management positions at two Further Education colleges, culminating in being a Director for Learning, Marketing and Business Engagement before joining NTU in 2019. He has also served as a staff governor for a large Further Education provider in Nottingham.

During his time in Further Education, he was nominated for two national teaching awards and won the JISC Award for the use of technology to support learning. His achievements in Further Education received national recognition, consequentially, he spoke at the Houses of Parliament on two separate occasions, one to discuss how he successfully developed the first Key Stage 4 programme that pre16 home schooled learners could access in a Further Education college in England; and for his work with Boots Plc in developing a successful training partnership.

Brendan currently is a Trustee at Raleigh Learning Trust.

Research areas

Brendan’s interests focus on situated learning, experiential learning, higher technical skills, apprenticeships, and pedagogical practice within post compulsory education.

Publications

Publications and Conferences:

  1. Coulson, B. 2021. The Skills for Jobs white paper: A chance to provide ‘flexibility.’ [Blog] Available at: https://www.bera.ac.uk/blog/the-skills-for-jobs-white-paper-a-chance-to-provide-flexibility
  2. Coulson, B. 2021. The Purpose of Education. [Blog] Available at: https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2021/07/23/the-purpose-of-education/
  3. Cole, D. and Coulson, B. 2022. Through and Beyond COVID-19, Promoting Whole Person, Lifelong and Lifewide Learning. Journal of Innovation in Polytechnic Education, 4(1), pp.45-50. Humber Press.
  4. Coulson, B. 2022. What does the Higher Technical Kitemark really mean? [Blog] Available at: https://wonkhe.com/blogs/what-does-the-higher-technical-kitemark-really-mean/
  5. Coulson, B. 2022. Higher Technical Education and Apprenticeships: Course Design Considerations. Employability and Skills Conference, Universities UK. 19 May 2022, online.
  6. Coulson, B. 2022. Annual Conference. Colleges Meeting Higher Technical Skills Needs. Association of Colleges. 15 November 2022, ICC, Birmingham.
  7. Brown, S., Coulson, B., Everson, J. 2023. A practical exploration of non-teaching leadership roles within the further education and skills sector (FES), in Outhwaite, D. (Ed), Simon, C, A. (Ed). 2023. Leadership and Management for Education Studies, Introducing Key Concepts of Theory and Practice. London: Routledge, chapter 13.
  8. Coulson, B. 2023. Conference. The Future of Higher Technical Qualifications. Inside Government. 18 May 2023, Online.

Press expertise

Brendan can offer comment on: Further Education; Higher Technical Qualifications; Higher National Awards; Apprenticeships; Adult Learning and Work-based Learning;