Dr Deborah Cooper

Professional biography

I am currently working on two externally funded international research projects. 

The Open University with PLAN International are supporting women in rural areas of Sierra Leone into a pathway to teaching for gender equity. I am academic lead for this work. It started with a  model of learniing assitants in Malawi and has developed through the Girls access tp Education (GATE)  and Teacher Training for Girls Inclusive Education (TTIGE) with over 900 young women now qualified as teachers for their communities. 

I am co-investigator exploring how school leaders in Asia develop as agents of change. GPE-KIX  Networked Improvement Communities for School Leaders towards Equity and Inclusion, in Afghanistan, Nepal and Pakistan .

My teaching  is centered on professional development and change.  

I am pathway lead for the Educational Leadership & Management modules.on the Masters programme.  I am  currently developing a  new stage one module as production chair. 

I have written free open education resources  on ethics, inclusion and gender for global audiences.

Becoming an Ethical Researcher. https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/becoming-ethical-researcher/content-section-overview-0?active-tab=description-tab[D1] 

I have previoulsy taught  Post Graduate Certificate in Education and International and Comparative Education.

My creative practice includes leading oral storytelling and creative writing methods. I am working on an inter-disciplinary project to develop the presentation skills of STEM engineers through storytelling: Speak Like a Storyteller not a Robot.