Cathal Butler

Dr Cathal Butler is a Principal Lecturer and Portfolio Leader for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education and English portfolios at the University of Bedfordshire's School of Education. He previously led the Postgraduate Education portfolio and has over a decade of experience as Course Leader for MA Education programs. His teaching focuses on research methods, teacher professional development, international education, and special educational needs. He supervises PhD students and coordinates international collaborations, including an MA Education (Leadership) program in Guyana.

Dr Butler holds a PhD in Cognitive Developmental Psychology from the University of Hertfordshire, alongside MSc and BA qualifications in Psychology. He is a member of the University's Institute of Research in Education and actively publishes in educational research areas. His research explores special educational needs, inclusive education, leadership in higher education, and the use of AI in academic writing contexts.

Externally, he serves on the UCET Research and International Committee, BERA Inclusive Education SIG, and the editorial board of the Journal of Global Education and Research. He has held external examiner roles at multiple UK institutions including University of Cumbria, Roehampton, and East London. Current projects include investigating AI's role in plagiarism perceptions and the experiences of BAME teaching assistants.

His publications span special education curricula, post-war teacher experiences in Kosovo, and part-time student success strategies. He has presented widely on topics like autism inclusion and teacher work-life balance, with recent talks available via University events platforms.