Dr Ruth Mieschbuehler is a Senior Lecturer in Education Studies at the University of Derby, UK, and an Executive Committee Member of the British Education Studies Association (BESA).

I am Programme Leader for Education Studies in the Institute of Education at the University of Derby. I coordinate and direct the continuing development of the programme. I also supervise both postgraduate and doctoral students in education.

Before that I worked as an Education Researcher at the International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS) at the University of Derby.  I was undertaking research into education, higher education and vocational education and training. I gained experience in applied research while working as Pedagogic Research Assistant in the Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development at Oxford Brookes University and at the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice at Oxford Brookes University.

I also taught for five years in the Swiss further education sector and was a Programme Leader for Languages. My overseas experience includes an exchange year at the University of Costa Rica and three months voluntary work in Bulgaria. I have an MSc in Social Policy Research from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a long-standing interest in understanding social inequalities particularly in relation to higher education.

I am author of a number of publications including The Minoritisation of Higher Education Students: An Examination of Contemporary Policies and Practice, a study of philosophical and pedagogical approaches to student educational experiences published by Routledge in 2018.

In my role as Executive Committee Member of the  British Education Studies Association (BESA) I promote the development of the subject – Education Studies – and represent academics and professional nationally.