Dr Folashade Akinmolayan Taiwo
MEng, PhD, SFHEA

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Research Funding

On this page:

• Current Funded Research Projects
• Previous Funded Research Projects

Current Funded Research Projects

Empowering Collaborative Learning: Breaking Barriers and Enhancing Equity in STEM Education Funding source: Cornell-QMUL Global Strategic Collaboration Award Start: 02-02-2025  /  End: 30-01-2026 Amount: £8,000 Collaborative learning environments (CLE) are vital for aligning education with the demands of the modern world. In these settings, students work together in groups to achieve shared learning goals, fostering critical thinking, peer learning, and social skills. Yet, realizing the benefits of CLEs can be challenging due to numerous obstacles faced by students and instructors. Thus, there is a pressing need for a tool that can effectively support students and instructors.

Previous Funded Research Projects

A comparative study looking at underrepresented engineering students in different institutional contexts: Investigating what contributes towards a holistic engineering student experience of international and home students (Follow on project) Funding source: UCL Centre for Engineering Education Start: 01-08-2023  /  End: 31-07-2024 Continuation from previous project to analyse the current student experience as reported by the student themselves. This includes the learning experience and performance but at the same time places great emphasis on aspects of inclusion, wellbeing and the relevant support mechanisms.

BeLOnG in SEMS: Perspective from the SEMS community Funding source: Westfield Fund Start: 05-12-2022  /  End: 08-12-2023 There is a need to facilitate and encourage students to share their experience, and utilise student partnerships to explore their needs. Through the development and display of a blog, students can identify what success and barriers they have identified in addition to how they experienced it. Blogs can draw together small virtual groupings of individuals interested in constructing knowledge around a common topic within a community of practice, and supporting each other. Through personal or group blogs, data sharing is enabled and experts and novices alike can make their voices heard to the rest of the online world. Therefore, students do not only participate in an activity and acquire skills, but also produce shared outcomes and advance the experiential learning of the readers.

Understanding the barriers to inclusivity and belonging within team based assessments Funding source: ALDinHE Start: 05-12-2022  /  End: 01-12-2023 Teamwork activities can simulate an authentic learning experience that supports peer feedback and self-reflection. Within teamwork, there are a variety of elements that are challenging for students, such as, managing expectations and group dynamics, and these can lead to a breakdown in communication. Teamwork approaches that consider diversity and promote equitable participation by all students, enhance the culture of the learning environment and are more likely to lead to productive group interactions.

A comparative study looking at underrepresented engineering students in different institutional contexts: Investigating what contributes towards a holistic engineering student experience of international and home students Funding source: UCL Centre for Engineering Education Start: 01-02-2023  /  End: 31-07-2023 In recent years, we have seen a sharp increase in student numbers and an associated diversification of student profiles across the UK at all taught levels. There is an interest to analyse the current student experience as reported by the student themselves. This includes the learning experience and performance but at the same time places great emphasis on aspects of inclusion, wellbeing and the relevant support mechanisms.

Co-creation of video tutorials to improve learning experience through supporting student assessment development Funding source: Westfield Fund Start: 21-09-2020  /  End: 30-09-2022 This project focuses on developing the student voice within SEMS through co-creation of learning materials with student partnerships. The overarching goal is to develop a culture of peer learning amongst students and more specifically on “peer teaching to enhance student learning”. The aim of the project is to develop online learning materials within an blended learning paradigm, and to ensure that the practical assessments are supported as much as possible within the available online platforms.