Oliver Belas

Dr. Oliver Belas is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Bedfordshire, serving as Course Coordinator for the Foundation Year and BA(Hons) Education degree. His research bridges philosophy, education, and English studies, with a focus on curriculum theory, creative writing pedagogy, and physical culture. He holds a PhD in English Literature (Royal Holloway, 2008) and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Belas is a member of the Institute for Research in Education (IREd) and Research Institute for Media, Art and Performance (RIMAP), supervising PhDs in both institutes. His recent monograph A Philosophical Inquiry into Subject English and Creative Writing (Routledge, 2023) was BERA-nominated, and his article Subject English as Citizenship Education won the BERJ 2020 Editors’ Choice Award.

Belas’ research interests include aesthetics, identity politics, and the philosophy of physical culture. He co-edits the Radical Education and Humanities Group (REHG) blog, publishing interdisciplinary work on education and culture. His current projects explore bodybuilding as a cyborg technology of self and co-authored monographs on Deweyan educational philosophy. He has presented at conferences such as BERA and the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain (PESGB).

• Professional Qualifications: EA Fellowship (2019), PGCert in Secondary English (2011)
• Key Roles: Co-founder of REHG, contributor to PESGB blog, member of NATE
• Community Engagement: Strength athlete and advocate for participatory learning