IOE Insights

What does a PhD journey look like when you paint it rather than write it? On a hot summer evening, Louise and Tooba meet at Louise's flat somewhere in London to reflect on balancing life and a PhD while painting our thoughts on canvases. Their conversation meanders along the tricky pathway of finding and maintaining the balance between pursuing PhD degrees, consistently striving for career development, and managing personal and medical commitments.  You can see the artworks they created during this episode on the UCL IOE student blog, and on the IOE Instagram account.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/jun/painting-our-way-through-balancing-academia-research-and-personal-life-phd-sketchbook More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioeMusic featured: "Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode of Academia et al, Zeinab El Khateeb speaks with Dr Gideon Sappor about the people and experiences that shaped his academic path. From his early ambitions in Ghana, Gideon traces the influence of his parents, his teachers, his PhD supervisor and senior colleagues who helped him understand how to develop and stay focused. He also reflects on inclusion, academic identity and the advice he would give to those beginning a career in research or higher education.More about Dr Gideon Sappor and his work: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/jun/village-behind-career-academia-et-alMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe

Children with rare genetic syndromes are already in our classrooms, yet many teachers receive little training in how best to support them. So what does meaningful, practical, research-informed support actually look like?As the Department for Education gives renewed priority to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), experts discuss their research into children with neurodevelopmental disorders."Trying to be curious... not just the child and their different syndromes, but about their individual characteristics, curious about what information is already out there, curious about parent perspective as well... that's the key thing."Full show notes: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/jun/teaching-fully-inclusive-classrooms-staffroom-s06e07More IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe

Dr Brian Irvine describes himself as an early career researcher, but not someone who is early in life. In this episode, he shares the varied experiences that brought him to the IOE, from teaching and childminding to specialist autism mentoring and doctoral study.His story highlights the value of bringing your whole life into research, including the skills and perspectives developed outside traditional academic roles. He also reflects on parenthood, purpose and the importance of making research more inclusive. It's your reminder that there is no single correct route into academia, and that different paths can lead to thoughtful, meaningful work.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/jun/starting-academia-later-life-academia-et-alMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe

In this episode of Academia et al, Zeinab El Khateeb speaks with Professor Martin Oliver about what it really takes to build a career in academia today.Drawing on his own journey and leadership experience, he speaks about the realities of progression, the pressures many early career researchers face and the importance of recognising the human experiences behind academic systems.Professor Oliver discusses one of his most significant roles, bringing together equity and inclusion responsibilities with the real mechanisms of progression and promotion.  He explains what it taught him about lived experience, fairness and the systems that shape academic careers.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/may/how-do-you-sustain-academic-career-academia-et-alMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe

What does a PhD journey look like when you paint it rather than write it? Today Louise and Tooba are talking - and painting - about data collection. From paper to implementation, what really goes into designing thoughtful data collection methods, and then putting them into practice? What about how the researcher felt while conducting interviews or travelling to not‑so‑accessible places? These experiences colour not only the research, but also how we understand ourselves as researchers.You can see the artworks they created during this episode on the UCL IOE student blog, and on the IOE Instagram account.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/may/painting-our-way-through-data-collection-memories-and-challenges-field-phd-sketchbookMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioeMusic featured: "Magic Escape Room" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Professor Richard Freeman joins Zeinab El-Khateeb to discuss the realities many researchers are feeling, and how easy it is to become pessimistic at times. But the heart of his message is supportive, reminding listeners that doctoral skills travel well and that people with doctorates often find satisfying work in many sectors, not only academia. His advice? Try not to lock yourself into only one definition of success, and stay open to what interests you as your career grows.Full show notes and links (including the MOOC - 'Is a PhD Right for Me?'): https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/may/when-academia-feels-tough-or-uncertain-academia-et-alMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe

What happens when a researcher’s own story becomes part of the data? And how do you ethically navigate moments when participants’ emotions – joy, frustration – surface in the interview process?In this episode, Dr Hakan Ergül speaks with Stephanie Hoi-Ying Chan, a PhD student at IOE. Stephanie’s doctoral research explores the lived experiences and professional identity development of primary music teachers in Hong Kong.Drawing on her background as a classically trained musician and former primary music teacher, Stephanie reflects on the ethical tensions of managing multiple identities in the field, handling emotionally charged interviews, and translating rich Cantonese narratives into English without losing meaning or voice.Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/may/between-identities-emotions-and-ethical-practice-fieldwork-research-ethicsMore IOE Insights podcasts: https://uclioe.info/podcastUCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe