Rebecca Westrup

Rebecca Westrup is a Senior Lecturer in Education and joined the School of Education and Lifelong learning in 2011. In 2015 Rebecca was awarded a University Teaching Fellowship and in 2016 she received HEA accreditation at Senior Fellow level. Rebecca’s PhD thesis awarded by Lancaster University explored the relationship between undergraduate students’ cultural models, academic writing and assessment practices and the construction of their identities.

In addition to researching academic writing, assessment and the construction of identities, Rebecca is interested in learning, teaching and research methodologies which explore the construction of identities across cultures. She has developed, co-taught and delivered short English Language, Literacy and Learning programmes in South Africa, India and Malawi.  

Rebecca’s research focuses on the construction of learner identities within a range of formal and informal settings. Her recent work has focused on gaining an insight into the development of undergraduate students’ learner identities within academic writing practices at university and the interplay between their writing narratives, assessment practices and opportunities for agency. Rebecca is keen to continue developing research which explores  an understanding of experience, especially through employing narrative approaches.

Other research projects have focused on mentoring programmes and learners’ transitions from Further Education (FE) to Higher Education (HE) within the contexts of academic writing and study. In one of these projects Rebecca explores the potential of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) as a method to support students’ knowledge and understanding of academic writing and assessment practices when making the transition to university.  

Rebecca is Course Director for the BA Education and she teaches on a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules within the School of Education and Lifelong Learning. Current modules include; Academic Development in Education, Children and Special Educational Needs and Inclusion, Childhood, Youth and Transitions and Dissertation Projects.  She also supervises Masters and Doctoral level students.