Derby College Group showcases groundbreaking research at National BERA Conference

Derby College Group (DCG) is celebrating after a team of staff presented their pioneering research at this year’s British Educational Research Association (BERA) Annual Conference, recently held at the University of Sussex.

The BERA Conference is the UK’s leading event for educational research, attracting academics, practitioners, policymakers and students from across the globe. DCG’s presence on the national stage highlighted the College’s growing reputation for innovative and inclusive teaching practice.

Among the team was Linzi Smithies, Level 3 Animal Care Lecturer and Advanced Practitioner for Land-based Studies at Broomfield Hall, who presented her project exploring how to place SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) learners at the heart of inclusion. Her work focused on developing strategies to help learners reach their full potential and provided practical approaches that other colleges can adopt.

Catherine Guerrero, Team Manager for Teaching and Learning at DCG, who leads the team, said: “We are immensely proud of our team who delivered at the prestigious BERA Conference. From submitting their abstracts and being selected to present, to delivering in front of a wide-ranging international audience, it was an absolute honour. Glyn, Linzi and Emily have advanced their own professional development and most certainly flew the flag for Further Education at DCG.”

In recognition of this achievement and to build on the momentum, DCG is creating a new Research Tab on its internal SharePoint platform. This digital hub will act as a dedicated space where staff can access, share and build upon research projects across the College. 

Much like an online library, the Research Tab will provide a central repository of knowledge, case studies and resources to support teaching and learning.

This initiative reflects DCG’s commitment to embedding research-led practice across the organisation. 

Catherine Guerrero added: “By establishing a Research Tab, we are making sure that the fantastic work of our colleagues doesn’t stop at the conference level, but continues to impact classrooms across DCG. This is about creating a culture where research drives improvement, inspires innovation and benefits learners at every stage.

"DCG’s growing presence at national forums such as BERA demonstrates how the College’s teachers and researchers are not only contributing to academic debate but also shaping the future of teaching and learning in Further Education."