Talking Teaching with Criminologists

In this episode, Drs. Anne Eason (University of the West of England) and Jill Dealey (University of Portsmouth) discuss 'pracademics': criminal justice practitioners moving into full-time university teaching on both traditional and vocational (police, probation) programmes. How easy is this transition? What skills, values and sensibilities do practitioners bring into the classroom? How do the needs of police and probation students differ - if at all - from traditional undergraduates? What is the recent past, and future of 'pracademia'?

In this episode of Talking Teaching with Criminologists, we are in conversation with Dr Linda Asquith. Linda is Senior Lecturer and Course Director for Criminology at Leeds Beckett University. She is an experienced teacher and researcher who has a special interest in victimisation and state harms. Linda's current research explores life after release for miscarriage of justice victims. She is also exploring how states and communities respond to disasters, especially in terms of compensation and charity funding. Alongside her research, Linda has taught a wide variety of criminological topics which include criminological theory, victims and restorative justice as well as introductory criminal justice, and forensic science. In this episode, Linda talks about the challenges in teaching sensitive topics, specifically concerning war crimes, and the additional challenge of delivering modules in this area during times of active conflict.

In this episode of Talking Teaching with Criminologists, we are in conversation with Craig Kelly. Craig is a Lecturer in Criminology at Birmingham City University, where he has taught since 2018, covering topics such as transnational organised and corporate crime, crime in its historical and political context and beyond statistics. In this podcast, Craig talks to us about his journey into academia, developing an academic identity, and his interests in culture, deviance and violence. Craig discusses the strategies he uses to create an inclusive and engaging learning environment where students can interact with critical discussions around social issues and social justice.

In this podcast, we are in conversation with Professor Rick Lines from Swansea University. Rick is Head of Substance Misuse and Vulnerable Populations for Public Health Wales. He joined the faculty of Swansea University in 2018 and is co-Director of the Global Drug Policy Observatory. He is a key figure in the emerging field of human rights and drug policy and is known for his leading research and teaching on subjects including international drug control law, prisoners' rights, HIV and human rights, capital punishment and harm reduction.  He is the former Executive Director of Harm Reduction International (2010-2018) and the Irish Penal Reform Trust (2003-2007).  He is also the co-founder and Chair of the International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy at the Human Rights Centre, University of Essex.

In this conversation we talk to Rick about his experience of transitioning from practice into academia and he discusses the teaching techniques he uses to deliver a Crime and Media module, and how his practice background has influenced his teaching approach. He also talks about providing students with opportunities to be involved in research projects.

In this episode of Talking Teaching with Criminologists, we are in conversation with Professor Neil Chakraborti. Neil has extensively researched hate crime, targeted hostility and violence against minorities. He has authored seven books and has more than 50 peer reviewed publications. His numerous research projects over the past two decades have led to a better understanding of hate crime victims, perpetrators and criminal justice policy. In this podcast, Neil talks to us about his journey into and through academia and explores issues around diversity and inclusion in teaching, learning and scholarship...and more!

In this episode of Talking Teaching with Criminologists, we are in conversation with Dr Kate Lister. Kate is a lecturer in the School of Arts and Communication at Leeds Trinity University. Kate primarily researches the literary history of sex work and curates the online research project, Whores of Yore, an interdisciplinary digital archive for the study of historical sexuality. Kate has also published in the medical humanities, material culture, Victorian studies and Neo-Medievalism. She regularly writes about the history of sexuality for inews, Vice, and the Wellcome Trust. Kate won the Sexual Freedom Publicist of the Year Award in 2017. In this podcast, Kate talks about a historical approach to teaching about the sex industry.

In this podcast, we are in conversation with Dr Kate Strudwick, former Chair of the British Society of Criminology Learning and Teaching Network. Kate is Dean of the Lincoln Academy of Learning and Teaching (LALT) at the University of Lincoln. She has worked at the University of Lincoln for 25 years holding a number of leadership roles. Kate’s teaching has focused on policing and criminal justice professions. In this conversation, we talk to Kate about her practice around enhancing student engagement, collaboration, and partnerships.

In this podcast, we are in conversation with Mark Jones who is the founder of Higher Plain Research & Education. He is an educational and research practitioner with over 25 years’ experience working with people in the community and 14 years in the Higher Education sector. He specialises in education pedagogy, desistance and education, policy writing, stakeholder engagement & co-production, inclusive research, youth and community work, reflective practice and professional development, and anti-oppressive practice.

In this month's podcast, we are in conversation with Gavin Dingwall and Tim Hillier from De Montfort University. Gavin is Professor of Criminal Justice Policy and Tim is Head of Leicester De Montfort Law School. Gavin and Tim are joined in this conversation by two final year undergraduate students, Megan Stanley and Tia Kirkland. In the podcast they explore their penology module which was awarded the inaugural University Research-Engaged Teaching Award in 2019. They discuss the value of integrating research activity into modular assessment to support students in developing their research and writing skills.

In this month's podcast, we are in conversation with Dr Anthony Charles from Swansea University on the topic of enhancing student experience through research-led teaching and offering students placements. Anthony is an Associate Professor in Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy. His areas of expertise include Youth justice; Children's participation in decision making; Children's rights; Consultation with children and young people; Youth crime prevention; Multi-agency crime prevention; Young people's use of substances; and Youth offending.

In this episode we talk to Dr Gary Saunders about Student As Producer. Gary is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Director of Teaching & Learning (School of Social & Political Sciences) at the University of Lincoln. He graduated from the University of Lincoln in 2004 with a BA (Hons) in Law and Criminology. He then studied for an MSc in Social Research Methods at Nottingham Trent University and his dissertation examined the impact of incarceration on prisoners’ families. He has been a teacher in HE and FE since 2004 and completed a PGDE in 2011 at the University of Lincoln. He completed his PhD in 2020, which examines student activism and autonomous learning spaces as sites that have the potential to prefigure alternative models of higher education provision.

In this podcast, we are in conversation with Magda Maszczynska on the topic of 'sustaining criminology'. Magda is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology in the School of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences at Plymouth Marjon University. She studied Criminology with Criminal Justice Studies and International Relations as her undergraduate degree, and a Masters in Social Research followed by PhD in Criminology. She is also a Subject Matter Expert and international consultant. She examines structures and networks of transnational organised crime, deterrence, terrorism and counter-terrorism, as well as aspects of investigative psychology and geographic profiling. She is an active member of a variety of international societies, research groups and organisations.

In this podcast, we are in conversation with Prof Sandra Walklate who provides reflections on her career, teaching and research experiences. Sandra offers her thoughts on the importance of teaching in criminology and the future of the discipline.