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Dr Nicola Kemp

Director of Graduate Studies, School of Humanities & Educational Studies Academic lead, Academy for Sustainable Futures

As Director of Graduate Studies, I oversee all postgraduate taught and research courses in the School and support the development of our graduate portfolio. I also work as Academic lead in the Academy for Sustainable Futures with particular responsibility for developing sustainability research across the University. My research connects these two roles with its focus on sustainability education across ages and phases. 

I have a particular interest in postgraduate teaching. I was course director for the MA Early Childhood Education for six years and continue to lead a specialist module on learning outdoors. I am experienced supervisor for both taught Masters and research degrees (MA by Research, Ed D and PhD).

My research interests are focused on the inter-relationship between education and sustainability across ages and educational phases. Much of my research explores children’s relationship with the natural environment.  Current projects funded by the Froebel Trust focus on outdoor provision for babies and toddlers and the potential of Nature Engaging and Nature Enhancing (NENE) pedagogies. I am also part of a research team from the National Centre for Christian Education Research (NICER) exploring young children’s spiritual flourishing

Research Projects

  • "Why Don't I Want to be a Teacher? An Autoethnographic Exploration of Education Sustainability and Class.". Researcher(s): Mr Tom Wilkinson. Supervisor(s): Mr Alan Pagden, Dr Nicola Kemp. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • A comparative case study analysis of three secondary schools in relation to the education they provide for their academically more able learners. Researcher(s): Mr Carl Lyon. Supervisor(s): Dr Nicola Kemp, Dr Sue Soan. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • A narrative inquiry into male teachers who work flexibly and their career progression.. Researcher(s): Mrs Hannah Duncan. Supervisor(s): Dr Marios Kostas, Dr Nicola Kemp. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • An autoethnograhic study of the changing experiences of new curricular middle leaders in UK secondary schools. Researcher(s): Mr Dominic Burrell. Supervisor(s): Dr Nicola Kemp, Dr Kevin Balchin. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • How can ecocriticism develop students ecological awareness in the secondary school English classroom?. Researcher(s): Mr Robert Hyland. Supervisor(s): Dr Claire Bartram, Dr Nicola Kemp. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Policing Dyslexia: An examination of the experiences and perceptions of dyslexic police officers in England.. Researcher(s): Mr Danny Bothwick. Supervisor(s): Dr Katja Hallenberg, Dr Nicola Kemp. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Remembering birth; a narrative inquiry into older women's experiences of birth and their lifelong significance. Researcher(s): Dr Helen Muscat. Supervisor(s): Dr Nicola Kemp, Professor Lynn Revell. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • What Can a Holistic Perspective Contribute to our Understanding of the Influential Relations Between Young Children, Adults and Natural Environments?. Researcher(s): Dr Tansy Watts. Supervisor(s): Dr Nicola Kemp, Dr Alan Bainbridge. [Postgraduate Research Project]

I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and have a particular interest in sustainability education.

I have led a range of Consultancy and Knowledge Exchange Projects including with Kent Wildlife Trust, The Bay Trust, Dandelion Time, The Froebel Trust and Bore Place.

I co-lead the Sustainability in Higher Education (SHE) network with the University of Plymouth

I am currently:
Educational Advisor to the Harmony Project
Member of the Early Years Coalition (and involved in the development and dissemination of Birth to 5 Matters sector guidance)
Member of the European Early Childhood Research Association (EECERA) Special Interest Group on Early Childhood Education for Sustainability
Lead for Strategic Partnership with The Froebel Trust

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Contact me

nicola.kemp@canterbury.ac.uk
01227924557

Based in

Faculty of Arts Humanities and Education
School of Humanities and Educational Studies