Dr Jon Talbot
Senior Lecturer
Dr Talbot has worked at CWRS since 2004 on a variety of pathways within the WBIS framework including FDiG, the Foundation Degree developed for the British Civil Service. He developed a specialist Masters pathway for practitioners in the field of Urban Regeneration and was the instigator for the development of pathways for Housing professionals.
In recent years his main role has been to facilitate student research projects in the workplace. Since 2009 he has been programme leader for the trans-disciplinary DProf programme. He published regularly on matters to do with work based learning practice whilst maintaining an active involvement in the planning profession.
After completing his Doctorate in the 1980s Dr Talbot worked as a planning professional in North East England before re-entering Higher Education where he taught Housing and Estate Management students for a number of years in Wales before joining the University of Chester in 2004. Since then he has performed a number of teaching roles with adult learners in the workplace and full time undergraduates. His personal interests relate to the use of e-learning, higher level reflective learning and the facilitation of practice enquiry.
Roles and responsibilities
In addition to his activities in the university Dr Talbot is actively engaged in the wider work based and lifelong learning community. He is a member of the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Authority. He is and has been an external examiner and academic advisor at a number of leading universities engaged in work based learning. In recent years he has given keynote addresses at international conferences and other events. He has been a participant in EU funded capacity building projects. He is a reviewer for a number of academic journals and publishes widely. In recent years he has engaged in contract and other forms of research.
Memberships
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Member of the Universities Association for lifelong Learning
- Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute
Doctoral supervision and work based learning project supervisor. Some individual learners and tutor for the Work Based Learning module for undergraduates. In recent years Dr Talbot has created online content for subject discipline modules and a series of videos on the APL process.
Research projects attracting external funding
2016: International Research Excellence Award (Santander Bank): assessing the potential for delivering more flexible vocational engineering education. (£2k)
2014: Evaluation of the Self Care at Work Programme (SCWP) at Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) NHS Foundation Trust (with Karen Manby, North West Health Education England 2014) (£6k)
2010: Investigation into the delivery of Research Methods on WBL projects (For Internal Pedagogic Research and Evaluation Network IPREN 2010) (£1k)
Other awards attracting external funding
2016-16: Partner researcher AIQA (Erasmus+) QA for joint degrees (£26k)
2014-16: Partner researcher VALERU project (Tempus) to bring VNIL to Russia. (£58k)
2008: Development of learning pathways for housing practitioners using the University of Chester’s Work Based and Integrative Studies (WBIS) programme and a dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (North West Higher Level Skills Pathfinder project- £40k)
Publications (since 2007)
In review
“Evaluating Self Care in an English public hospital” (International Journal of Occupational Health)
“Repurposing MOOCs for the Accreditation of Prior Learning: A survey of practice in University Work Based Learning departments” (International journal of ~Lifelong Learning)
“Curriculum design for the post-industrial society: The facilitation of individually negotiated higher education in Work based learning shell frameworks in the United Kingdom” (Progress in Education, Vol. 39, New York: Nova Publications).
Published
Books
(2016), Lifelong learning: Concepts, benefits and barriers, Panitsides, E. & Talbot, J. (Eds.), New York: Nova Publishers.
Journal articles and book chapters
(2016), “Theory and practice in work based learning: an English case study”, in Cendon, E, Mörth, A., Pellert, A., (eds.): Theorie und praxis verzahnen: Lebenslanges lernen an Hochshulen, Münster: Waxmann, pp. 102-120.
(2016), (with Meakin, R. & Jones, G. ) “Developing effective pedagogies for lifelong learning: The Work Based and Integrative Studies program and its impact on the Forum Mobility project” in Lifelong learning: Concepts, benefits and barriers, Panitsides, E. & Talbot, J. (Eds.), pp. 37-50, New York: Nova Publishers.
(2015), “Re-purposing MOOCs and OER for academic credit in the UK using the Work Based and Integrated Studies programme at the University of Chester” in Open Learning and Formal Credentialing in Higher Education: Curriculum Models and Institutional Policies (Eds. Reushle, S. and Antonio, A. & Keppell, M.: IG Global), pp, 120-142.
(2015), “Recognising Non-formal and Informal learning: modernising Russian higher education or irrelevant?”, Journal of Education and Science, 5 (4) (in Russian and English), pp. 142-157:
(2014), “A case study in the development of Work Based Learning and the possibility of transfer to continental European universities: the WBIS program at the University of Chester, England”, Prior Learning Assessment Inside Out (PLAIO) 2 (2):
(2014), “Enterprise Zones: do they create or add value? A rejoinder”, Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal, 7 (4), pp. 311-320.
(2014) (with Perrin, D. & Meakin, D.) “Risk management and cultural virtue in HE co-delivery arrangements”, Quality Assurance in Education 22 (2), pp 109-124.
(2014), (with Lilley, A.) “Approaches to supervising work based learning students’ workplace research”, Higher Education, Skills and Work Based Learning, 4 (1), pp. 44-65.
(2013), “A coming crisis in planning education?”, Town and Country Planning 82 (12), pp. 525-533.
(2012), “Beyond introspective reflective learning: externalised reflection on a UK University’s Doctor of Professional Studies programme”, Work Based Learning e-journal International 2 (2), pp. 1-23.
(2010) “Changing power relations in work based learning: collaborative and contested relations between tutors, learners and employers” in Innovations in Lifelong Learning, (Ed. Sue Jackson), pp 187-208. London: Routledge.
(2009) “Workers researching the workplace using a work based learning framework: developing a research agenda for the development of improved supervisory practice" Journal of Applied Research in Workplace E-learning 1 (1), pp 169-182.
(2009) “Civil Service education” in Bridging the knowledge divide: educational technology for development, pp 77-96 (Eds. S. Marshall, W. Kinuthia, W. Taylor) Charlotte NC: Information Age Publishing
(2009) Using a Work Based Learning Framework to deliver Regeneration education for practitioners at the University of Chester, Adlib no.38, pp 18-22, Cambridge: Institute of Continuing Education
(2007) ‘Post colonial town planning in the Commonwealth: a case study of the Solomon islands: an agenda for change’. Roundtable: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, 96 (390) pp319-330
(2007) ‘Delivering distance education for modern government: the F4Gov programme’ Journal of Education and Training, 49 (3), pp 250-60
Conference and other presentations
Forthcoming
“PLA practices in Europe and beyond”, National Institute on the Assessment of Adult Learning, 14-16 June, Atlantic City.
“Missionary zeal: Proselytising for Experiential and Work Based Learning in the Russian Federation”, UALL annual conference, 5-7 April 2017, York.
Delivered
(2016) “The Validation of Non-formal and Informal learning: Theory, history and practice”, Best practices of Bologna tools implementation for quality assurance in the Russian academic system, Moscow, 12 October.
(2016) “What makes for a really good work based project”?, Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL) Work and Learning Network Annual Conference, University of the Arts, London , 24 June.
(2016) “Repurposing MOOCs for the Accreditation of Prior Learning: A survey of practice in University Work Based Learning departments”, Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL) Annual Conference, Oxford, 18 March.
(2016) “Who will accredit MOOC learning? A survey of Work based learning departments in English and Welsh universities”, Open University, CICP Seminar ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ Milton Keynes, 26 February.
(2016) “A partial review of Work Based Learning in English and Welsh universities”. "Fostering partnerships for continuing training – cooperation between higher education institutions and enterprises", Cedefop: Thessaloniki, 11 February.
(2015) (with Tim Christensen) “Re-purposing MOOCs for academic credit: a student and tutor perspective”, Annual Staff conference, University of Chester, 10th September.
(2015), “Evaluating Self Care in an English public hospital”, Annual BELL Research conference, University of Chester, 7th September.
(2015), “Flexible learning in higher education: the WBIS programme at the University of Chester, England”, International Moscow Forum, Moscow City University, 10th April.
(2012), “Open Educational Resources for Higher Education: a global revolution?”, Annual Staff Conference, University of Chester 14th September.
(2012), “What counts as knowledge in a Professional Doctorate? Where is it appropriate to use more formal and less formal theoretical frameworks in practice enquiry?”, Third International Conference on Professional Doctorates, Florence 3rd April.
(2010) ‘Postmodern or Late modern? What counts as knowledge in Work Based Learning?’ Society for Research into Higher Education, Newport 14th December.
(2010) (with Tony Wall) ‘What academic framework(s) and structure would fully embed action research?’, CARN Envisaging and embedding prior/present action enquiries in higher education, York St John University College, 17th September
(2010) (with Rob Dawson) ‘Reflective practice in Higher Education,, University of Chester Annual Staff conference May 2010
(2010) (with Dilys Leonard) ‘Islands in the stream- causeways or compromise?’, Work Based Learning Futures, University of Middlesex, April
(2009) “Reflecting upon reflection; beyond reflective cycles for study at doctoral level”, International Conference on Professional doctorates: Cavendish conference Centre, London 9-10th November
(2009) “Workers researching the workplace: the confessions of a Work Based Learning tutor” Researching Work and Learning 6th Conference, University of Roskilde, 28th June- 1st July
(2009) “Developing new work based learning pathways for housing practitioners whilst participating peripherally and legitimately: the situated learning of work based learning tutors” (with D. Leonard) UVAC, University of Derby, 30th April
(2009) ‘Contentious issues in practitioner research: reflecting on work based learning projects’, CARN Practitioner Enquiry across boundaries, University of Chester, 1st April
(2008) ‘Regeneration for Practitioners’ at the University of Chester: using a flexible, work based framework to deliver demand based education for professional regenerators. Regeneration and Learning Continuity, Change and Community. University College Newport, 21st October.
(2008) ‘Can universities deliver regeneration skills? Reflections on experience with the University of Chester’s Regeneration for Practitioners using a work based learning framework’, PENR3L/PASCAL, University of Limerick, 29th May.
(2007) ‘What’s the use of on line work based learning? Reflections on key difficulties with reference to the University of Chester’s Work Based and Integrative Studies (WBIS) programme’, Innovations in Lifelong Learning, Birkbeck, University of London, 29th June.
(2007) ‘Engaging with employers; reflections from experience”, The Higher Education Academy Psychology Network/ Work Foundation ‘Psychology, Enterprise and Employer involvement’, London, 27th February.
(2006) ‘The F4Gov programme at the University of Chester’, UVAC, York, 30th November
(2006) ‘Delivering distance education for modern government: the F4Gov programme at the University of Chester’ Fourth Pan Commonwealth of Learning, Rio Rocos, Jamaica, 2nd November
(2006) ‘Delivering innovative regeneration learning’, Access to Regeneration Skills (NIACE, RENEW etc), Manchester, 26th January.
Research projects attracting external funding
2016: International Research Excellence Award (Santander Bank): assessing the potential for delivering more flexible vocational engineering education. (£2k)
2014: Evaluation of the Self Care at Work Programme (SCWP) at Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) NHS Foundation Trust (with Karen Manby, North West Health Education England 2014) (£6k).
2010: Investigation into the delivery of Research Methods on WBL projects (For Internal Pedagogic Research and Evaluation Network IPREN 2010) (£1k).
Other awards attracting external funding
2016-16: Partner researcher AIQA (Erasmus+) QA for joint degrees (£26k).
2014-16: Partner researcher VALERU project (Tempus) to bring VNIL to Russia. (£58k).
2008: Development of learning pathways for housing practitioners using the University of Chester’s Work Based and Integrative Studies (WBIS) programme and a dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (North West Higher Level Skills Pathfinder project- £40k).
1998: Walter Hines Page Scholarship (English Speaking Union) – visiting scholarship for teaching in the built environment, USA. (£1k).
Reviews
Reviewer for Scottish Journal of Geography, Education and Training (Outstanding Reviewer Award 2016), Higher Education, Skills and Work Based Learning and the Journal of Public Affairs.