John Buchanan

Dr. John Buchanan is an Associate Professor at the University of Technology Sydney within the Faculty of Design and Society. With extensive experience in education and teacher education, he currently teaches sociology and environmental education, as well as English as an Additional Language in the Bachelor of Education program at UTS. He serves as President of the Primary Human Society and its Environment Teachers Association (PHSIETA) and has an active research profile with numerous publications and funded research projects.

His research interests focus on intercultural education, particularly examining the constructs students and teachers have of themselves, of each other, and of educational institutions. He investigates how these variables impact educational outcomes, with special attention to Australian teachers' and students' perspectives on intercultural studies. More broadly, his scholarly work encompasses sociology and social justice, studies of religion, literacy, Aboriginal education, and local history.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on teacher education reform, particularly around Teaching Performance Assessments (TPAs) in the Australian context. His work also demonstrates significant contributions to sustainability education, examining the policy-practice gap in implementing sustainability initiatives in schools. His research on career change teachers and rural teacher recruitment addresses critical workforce challenges in education.

Dr. Buchanan has secured multiple research grants from organizations including the NSW Department of Education, Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, and World Vision Australia. His funded projects have examined teacher preparedness, rural teacher recruitment, global citizenship education, and sustainability education implementation.

As an educator, he supervises pre-service teachers and has developed innovative approaches to professional learning groups that help pre-service teachers become researchers. His teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking, understanding difference, and developing narrative imagination in future educators.