Yana Manyukhina

Dr. Yana Manyukhina is a Senior Research Fellow at University College London's Institute of Education, Department of Learning and Leadership, where she conducts research on children's agency, curriculum studies, and critical realist philosophy. She is a key researcher at the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy (0-11 years), leading the Children's Agency theme and contributing to the Centre's mission of advancing early childhood and primary education research.

Dr. Manyukhina holds an interdisciplinary educational background, having completed degrees in Politics and International Relations (BA), Mass Communications and Media (MA), and Sociology and Social Policy (PhD), followed by a CertHE in Philosophy at Birkbeck, University of London. This diverse academic foundation informs her unique perspective on educational research and practice.

Her research primarily focuses on children's rights, voice, and agency within and beyond formal educational settings, with particular interest in how structural elements influence children's agency in schools. Methodologically, she is committed to qualitative research approaches, with special emphasis on child-friendly approaches and tools. Her work often bridges theoretical frameworks from critical realism with practical educational applications, as evidenced by her 40-month research project across diverse primary schools in England.

Dr. Manyukhina's publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output focused on children's agency and curriculum development. Her research shows a clear trajectory from theoretical explorations of ethical consumption and moral identity to applied educational research examining how children experience and navigate educational structures. The publication of her co-authored book 'Children's Agency in the National Curriculum: The Promise of Structured Freedom' (2025) represents a significant contribution to the field, synthesizing years of research into practical educational frameworks.

• Global Food Studies Graduate Scholar Award (2014)
• Research Mobility Programme (2014)
• Leeds International Research Scholarship (2013-2016)
• Best MA Mass Communications Dissertation Prize (2011)
• Best MA Mass Communications Student Performance Prize (2011)
• International Students Open Scholarship (2011)
• Presidential Scholarship (2005-2009)
• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)

As an educator, Dr. Manyukhina supervises MA and PhD dissertations in Early Years and Primary Education and leads a postgraduate module on Values, Vision and Moral Purpose in educational leadership. Her commitment to educational equity extends beyond academia through her work with the Brilliant Club, supporting under-represented students in accessing higher education. At the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy, she continues to advance discourse on children's agency in education, welcoming PhD students interested in researching these critical areas.

Dr. Manyukhina's work at the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy represents a significant contribution to understanding how children's voices can shape educational experiences. Her research combines theoretical rigor with practical application, as demonstrated by her longitudinal study across three contrasting primary schools in England. This approach ensures that her findings have direct relevance for educators, policymakers, and children themselves, bridging the gap between academic research and classroom practice.