معرفی
Rachel Hewett is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Birmingham and currently serves as Head of the Department of Disability, Inclusion and Special Needs (DISN). She is also co-director of the Vision Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research (VICTAR). Her research focuses on post-16 transitions for young people with disabilities, particularly vision impairment, and she leads the 'Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment' project. Previously, she worked in clinical trials at the Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit before becoming a Birmingham Fellow in 2017.
Education: Rachel holds a PhD in Education (2020), MSc Applied Statistics (2011), and BSc Economics (2003) from the University of Birmingham, alongside an MA in Social Research (2004) and a PGCHE in Higher Education (2021).
Research Interests: Her work addresses inclusion in higher education, transitions into employment, and the lifelong experiences of individuals with vision impairment. Notable contributions include the 11-year Longitudinal Transitions Study tracking post-school outcomes and a Delphi-based curriculum framework for visually impaired youth.
Grants & Awards: She has secured funding from the Nuffield Foundation, RNIB, and others. Her Birmingham Fellow appointment (2017) highlights her scholarly impact. She has also contributed to policy reports on educational access for visually impaired students.
Labs/Teams: Her work is anchored within VICTAR, collaborating on initiatives like the 'Eye Work With You Too' project and evidence assessments for Welsh Assembly Government.
