Quintin Cutts

Professor Quintin Cutts is a leading figure in computer science education research at the University of Glasgow's School of Computing Science. As a Professor of Computer Science Education, he has made significant contributions to curriculum development, particularly for Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence, and serves on the Academic Board of the UK Government's £84M National Centre for Computing Education.

His research focuses on critical areas including computer science education, computational thinking development, spatial skills in programming, and teacher professional development. Professor Cutts has conducted extensive research on the relationship between spatial abilities and success in computer science, publishing multiple studies that demonstrate how spatial skills training can improve programming outcomes for students.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on practical educational interventions, with significant work on early-years computing education, teacher development programs like STACS, and innovative approaches to teaching computational concepts. His research consistently bridges theory and practice, with numerous experience reports and empirical studies that directly inform classroom teaching.

• MBE (2015) for services to computer science
• Best paper award at ACM Inroads (2019)
• Chairs' award for spatial skills research (2019)

Professor Cutts actively mentors doctoral students and early-career researchers, with frequent collaborations evident in his publication record. His work with the UKICER conference and Works-in-Progress workshops demonstrates his commitment to building a strong community of computing education researchers. He has secured significant funding for projects supporting teachers and developing effective computing curricula across multiple educational levels.