The University of Data: Ethical and Social Futures of Data-Driven Education
The Edinburgh Futures Institute, the School of Social and Political Science and the Moray House School of Education and Sport are delighted to invite applications for this PhD studentship, funded by Baillie Gifford, to begin in the academic year 2020/2021. The studentship will be supervised by Dr Karen Gregory (Digital Sociology) and Dr Jen Ross (Digital Education).
This studentship will explore higher education as a site of data-driven innovation and ethical debate. It will be informed by three key research questions: What does the data-driven university look like? How are AI and data futures being proposed for the university, and by whom? What messages about AI, datafication, and ethics are being communicated to students, and what difference do these make to their experiences during and after university?
Situated between Digital Sociology and Digital Education, this studentship will employ innovative methods to understand how data-driven initiatives, such as the adoption of predictive learning analytics in classrooms, are playing out in higher education and translated to broader populations and communities beyond the University. Outreach and public engagement will form a key part of the studentship, with an emphasis on developing the capacity to perform the emergent role of “data ethnographer” in civic and ethical life.
Detailed description (School of Social and Political Science)
Award details
The studentship is open to home, EU and international students.
The award includes:
- 4 years stipend at UKRI rates (estimated to be in the region of £15,245 for 2020/21).
- Tuition fees.
- Annual research support budget of £2,000.