Strathclyde Early Childhood Education HubOur Research Students
Post Graduate Research Students (current)
Rehab Agzagee
Research project:
Integrated Cooperative Guided Play Model in Saudi Early Childhood context
Cansu Ikbal Aytac
Research project:
Eliciting young children’s views on being listened to in early years settings
Caroline Cameron
Research project:
Early Years children developing critical consciousness through critical literacy using picture books
Yueling Chen
Research project:
Reframing English Learning for very young learners (3-6) under the contemporary policy: a study in Canton area of China
Komla Dartey Zaffar
Research project:
EdD - High-Quality within Early Childhood Education and Care and how is this inspected in Scotland and England?
Ann Doyle
Research project:
Exploring the impact of relationships in facilitating emotional competence in preschool children
Stella (Styliani) Gkegka
Research project:
Let’s play: Advancing the motor perspective in autism with benefits of active play in school
Daniel Mayol Jimenez
Research project:
Intense foci as a vehicle for development in the classroom for autistic students
Arushi Mathur
Research project:
Nurturing critical consciousness of Cate Oppression in the early years of primary school in India
Xunrou Shen
Research project:
Rethinking parental engagement with young children’s learning during and post Covid-19 through a Froebelian lens
Jingyi Yang
Research project:
Exploring the perspectives and practice of practitioners of colour to conduct anti-racist education through picture books in nurseries in Scotland
Post Graduate Research Students (completed)
Charlotte Allan
Research project:
MPhil--Missed connections and silver linings: researching theatre for early years audience experience during the COVID-19 pandemic
PhD (Working title)-- Investigating the audience experience of Theatre for Early Years (TEY) with very young children and their accompanying adults
Zainab Attar
Research project:
"Children's Voices": Exploring the Voice of Early Years Children About their Experiences Of Learning English-Speaking in Primary Schools in Qatar
Yu Wei Chua
EC PGR Network 2025–26: Presentation Series & Mini-Conference
-
TBCFeb2026
The Image of the Child in Context
Anne S Paterson, OBE (EdD, University of Strathclyde) will use a narrative approach to challenge the widespread benchmarking of play at the Early Level of CfE. Her presentation will highlight the importance of context and the child’s contribution, viewed through a rural Scottish lens.
-
11Mar2026
Do You See What I See? Diverse Approaches to Analysing Visual Data
Joanna McPake (Reader, University of Strathclyde) will explore the growing use of visual data in qualitative research, discussing three analytical approaches—ethnography, ethnomethodology, and nexus analysis. She’ll unpack the strengths and limitations of each, inviting reflection on how we interpret visual information.
-
26May2026
EC PGR Mini-Conference (online)
We’re excited to announce a mini-conference for postgraduate researchers in Early Childhood across Scotland! This event will be a space to share research, build connections, and discuss key issues in the field. Call for Contributions Coming Soon! All PGRs in Early Childhood are warmly encouraged to take part.
To join our EC PGR network. register here
Organised by the Early Childhood team, Strathclyde Institute of Education
Convenor: Jingyi Yang
Co-led by Dr Lorna Arnott & Dr Zinnia Mevawalla
Contact: jingyi.yang@strath.ac.uk