Mark Tymms

Mark Tymms is a Senior Lecturer in Education Studies at De Montfort University, based in the School of Applied Social Sciences within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. He is based at The Gateway, Leicester, and can be contacted via email at mtymms@dmu.ac.uk or by phone at +44 (0)116 207 8855.

Education:

• PhD: Exploring the Impacts and Experiences of PDP at a Single UK University
• MSc: Psychology of Wellbeing
• PGCE: Lifelong Learning
• PGCE: Research Methods
• BSc (Hons): Psychology
• BA (Hons): Information Graphic Design

Mark's research focuses on the psychology of learning, with a strong emphasis on learner and practitioner wellbeing, autonomy, motivation, and identity within educational contexts. His work is informed by Self-Determination Theory and person-centred education, utilizing qualitative methods such as existential phenomenology. He has a long-standing interest in Personal Development Planning (PDP), its implementation, and its impact on student engagement and identity.

His recent publications center on the unintended consequences of tutorial innovations and PDP practices in higher education, revealing tensions between institutional processes and student wellbeing. These works span themes in educational leadership, pastoral care, and the psychological dimensions of learning.

Professional Affiliations:

• British Psychological Society

Conference Presentations:

• Worcester PDP and Employability Conference (2011): Keynote – “PDP: The Realities & The Issues”
• Worcester Student Learning Conference (2010): “Students as Learning Partners: Education & Dialogue”
• CRA 2nd International Residential Seminar, Nottingham (2010): “Getting Up Close & Personal: Recognizing the role of personal belief, attitudes and influences on PDP formalization & presentation”
• Worcester PDP & Employability Conference (2009): “PDP: The Problem’s all in the Comma”

Mark teaches across a range of modules including Perspectives in Education, Thinking & Learning in Higher Education, How People Learn, Researching Education, Adult Learners & Lifelong Learning, Education & Wellbeing, Dissertation supervision, and Leading & Managing Educational Change. He has no listed scientific awards or named students, but his role as a senior lecturer and PhD supervisor suggests active involvement in academic mentoring and research supervision. He also maintains an ORCID identifier: 0000-0002-6330-3610.