Enhancing mathematics and statistics support through developing individual practices and establishing effective networks
Funder
ESRC IAA Partnership Fund
Project Team
Value to Coventry University
£4,944
Duration
December 2024 - December 2025
Collaborators
Coventry University - Lead
Sigma National Network for Excellence in Mathematics and Statistics Support
Scottish Maths Support Network
Irish Maths Learning Support Network
Lemma Network (Germany)
MatRIC (Norwegian Centre for Excellence in Mathematics Education)
Pi (Czech mathematics support network)
Project Overview
Coventry University is seen as a world-leader in excellence in maths and stats support and in this project we will use our expertise to help the development of maths and stats support networks across Europe and globally. The project has both macro and micro levels, focusing on supporting leaders of the national networks as well as practitioners in newly formed networks. We have two stages: Stage one is a National Mathematics and Statistics Support Networks Symposium. We will invite five national networks (three of which are in the early stages of development) to participate in a symposium, hosted at Coventry University, to reflect on how to establish and sustain effective national maths and stats support networks. A key output following the Symposium will be the co-development, with some of the delegates, of a good practice guide for sustaining effective national networks of maths and stats practitioners. We will survey delegates in 1 and 3 years on their use of this research-informed guidance in progressing their action plans.
Stage two: Practitioner Development Workshops. Building on previous CPD workshops for practitioners working in Czechia and Norway, we will deliver CPD hybrid sessions (hosted in Germany) for staff working in maths and stats support in German universities. We will update the existing good practice guide following these workshops, supported by colleagues in Germany and Czechia.
Project Objectives
To support the development of maths and stats support networks across Europe and beyond.
Impact Statement
The proposed activities will extend work with partners who have already engaged with us and our work and create impact by further embedding our findings into their practices and policies. As a result of colleagues participating in the CPD workshops, we anticipate changes in how maths and stats support provision is organised within some institutions, the way tutors are trained and the way the provision is evaluated. The proposed Symposium will enable our research to inform i) the establishment of effective national maths and stats support networks and ii) an on-going partnership between these national networks. Coventry is a (arguably, the) leading international centre for research in mathematics and statistics support, and a thriving partnership of national networks will enable the dissemination of our research findings. However, the partnership will be primarily practice-focused so that this dissemination will lead to changes in support practices in institutions across Europe and beyond.
