Thoughts and ideas on education, culture, psychology, social science and more from our academics, students, alumni and wider community to create lasting and evolving change. Podcasts brought to you by UCL Institute of Education (IOE), the world's leading centre for education and social science research, courses and teaching, and a faculty of University College London (UCL).
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Preview: How to improve early years education | Research for the Real World
The first years of a child’s education can shape their relationship with learning for the rest of their life. But creating educational experiences that work for every child requires more than good intentions. It takes robust research, close collaboration with educators and a clear understanding of what children need.
That is the focus of the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy at the UCL Institute of Education.
Founded in 2018, the Centre brings together researchers, educators and partners to improve the educational experiences of children from birth to 11, and to explore how education can contribute to a more equitable society.
We’ll meet the people behind the research, hear about projects shaping classrooms and communities, and explore how evidence can influence educational policy and practice.
Dominic Wyse and Charlotte Hacking - reading and writing
Dominic Wyse and Yana Manyukhina - children’s agency
Alice Bradbury and Emily Ranken - special educational needs and disabilities, and learning English as an additional language
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12 Oct 2026
Deafblindness and accessibility: Are we including everyone? | Inclusive Voices: Deafblindness
Dr Leda Kamenopoulou and contributors examine the barriers, technologies, and design decisions that can either enable or restrict participation in education, work, and society.
Accessibility is often viewed as an additional feature rather than a fundamental requirement, yet for people with deafblindness it can determine whether participation is possible at all. In this episode, a disability advocate and an accessibility researcher and designer share their lived experiences and professional expertise to explore the realities of navigating a world that is not always designed with sensory diversity in mind.
The discussion considers everyday barriers encountered in communication, public services, social activities, and physical and digital environments, while reflecting on the opportunities and limitations of assistive technologies.
The conversation also challenges listeners to think beyond individual accommodations and towards inclusive design from the outset. By exploring deafblindness as a diverse spectrum of experiences, the episode highlights how small but intentional changes can have a significant impact on access, participation, and belonging.
Drawing on perspectives from advocacy, research, and user experience design, the discussion offers practical insights into how organisations, educators, designers, and policymakers can move from awareness to action and create environments that work for everyone.
Full show notes: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/oct/deafblindness-and-accessibility-are-we-including-everyone-inclusive-voices-deafblindness (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/oct/deafblindness-and-accessibility-are-we-including-everyone-inclusive-voices-deafblindness)
Image: New Africa via Adobe Stock.
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5 Oct 2026
How young people can find their place in a changing world | Research for the Real World
As societies face growing political and social tensions, citizenship education is increasingly being asked to help young people make sense of the world around them.
In this episode, Jason Ilagan hears from Hans Svennevig about research into the knowledge citizenship teachers need and how classrooms can support informed, active participation in society. The conversation explores democracy, human rights, identity, sustainability, peace education and the ethical challenges raised by artificial intelligence.
Hans reflects on what it means to educate citizens for an uncertain future and why citizenship education is ultimately about empowering young people to take action.
Full show notes and links to follow.
More Research for the Real World: https://uclioe.info/rftrw (https://uclioe.info/rftrw)
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UCL Institute of Education: https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe (https://ucl.ac.uk/ioe)
Who has been a guest on IOE insights
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Gill Wyness
Professor Eileen Kennedy
Professor Gill Wyness
Hend Aly
Heather Rolfe
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
32 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 54 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
73
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
90
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