Digital Society and Education

The Digital Society and Education research cluster aims to explore how digital technologies intersect with education and society, addressing, amongst others, issues related to equity, inclusion, and curricular transformation through interdisciplinary research and practice.

The research cluster adopts interdisciplinary and critical approaches to examine how digital technologies influence education and society. It explores digital pedagogy, equity, justice, Gen-AI, digital well-being, literacies, and governance, using diverse methodologies to investigate both practical and theoretical dimensions of digital transformation across various educational and societal contexts.

Two female students sit in a reception area, they are smiling and looking at their laptops

Cluster Members

Cluster Lead: Dr Cristina Costa

Cluster Co-lead: Dr Michaela Oliver

Durham SoE Cluster members

Durham PhD Scholars

Ms Lisa Bian
Mrs Candace Nolan-Grant
Mr Jamie Pearson
Miss YI Shang
Miss Yuanya Zhang

External research affiliates and members

Coming soon

Themes

Gen-AI in education (Dr Cristina Costa; Dr Micahela Oliver; Dr Jasper Roe)
Digital literacies, citizenship and curriculum imagination (Dr Cristina Costa; Dr Michaela Oliver)
Digital well-being (Dr Cristina Costa; Dr Michaela Oliver; Dr Sarah Walker)
Young people, digital participation and inclusion (Dr Cristina Costa; Dr Michaela Oliver; Dr Anna Llewellyn)
Digital Parenting (Dr Xiaofei Qi)
Digital storytelling (Dr Sophie Ward)

We also run a Digital Society and Education Emerging Researcher Network for and with PhD Scholars

Lead: Ms Yuanya Zhang
Mentor: Dr Cristina Costa

The Digital Society and Education Emerging Researcher Network is a vibrant, peer-led initiative designed for PhD scholars and early-career researchers exploring the intersection of digital society and education. Co-led by emerging researchers and supported by an experienced academic mentor, the network offers a collaborative and inclusive space to share knowledge, develop research skills, and build academic careers.

Our mission is to foster a supportive research culture through activities that encourage dialogue, skill-building, and community.

Activities include:

Communi-Cake: An informal space to share and discuss challenges and experiences of the PhD journey and eat cake! (Twice a term). [PGRs + academics]
Research Tertúlia: A developmental space to share research ideas and work-in-progress (Two half-days per year). [PGRs + academics]
Writing Group: A regular peer-led session focused on academic writing (Monthly). [PGRs]
Research Book Club: A monthly discussion of selected readings, alternating with the writing group. [PGRs + academics]

The network welcomes collaboration with other strands of the Digital Society and Education research cluster and values contributions from both postgraduate researchers and established academics.

^{[1] A research Tertúlia is an informal and participatory gathering that brings researchers together to engage in thoughtful discussion, exchange ideas, and critically reflect on scholarly topics in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Its informal format is designed to encourage open dialogue and foster a collaborative spirit around focused discussions, inviting scholars at all levels to contribute and learn from one another.}

Information about PhD studies

We encourage enquiries from prospective PhD students whose research interests align with the work of the cluster and its members. If you have a specific project in mind, please contact the academic whose expertise best matches your proposal. You can use our suggested PhD proposal template to structure your application. Click here for more information and guidance.

For general inquiries about studying with us, please contact ed.pgtstudents@durham.ac.uk

Students enrolled at Durham University can choose the following modules:

UG Taught Modules