Michael.Pugh@uws.ac.uk

Research Interests (outline)

Scottish political history from 1832, with especial focus on political change, devolved and local governance, and the wider constitutional landscape.

Public history and policy engagement

Learning and teaching research

Current Teaching Interests (* as Module Coordinator or Moderator)

L7

Democracy in the UK

Making the Modern World*

L8

Foundations of Social and Political Thought*

L9

American Society, Politics and Policy *

Democracy and European Political Parties

L10

UK Political History c1945-2010 *

L11

Dissertation: Applied Social Sciences *

Current Research Projects

Scottish and UK local authorities and the Nuclear Free Zones movement from 1987

Local governance reform and democratic renewal debates in Scotland

European Identity (as part of Erasmus+ RUEU? project)

Peer assessment in the context of academic literacies and inclusive practice

 Academic Biography

I joined UWS at its founding as a new merged university in 2007, having taught at one of its co-founding institutions in Bell College from 2001.  I completed my MPhil and PhD part-time while teaching full-time, so have particular affinity for lifelong learners from diverse backgrounds.  My research profile is complemented by a strong track record of succesful module and programme leadership and curriculum design and development (This spans 'access' courses through all undergraduate levels to postgraduate dissertations.)

• Development of, and challenges facing, Scotland's local state in an historical and contemporary context
• Scottish and British politic al and constitutional change
• Local Authorities in the international Nuclear Free Zones movement since 1987.
• Part of the international interdisciplinary team working on ERASMUS+ funded RUEU project exploring European identity through serious game development.
• Practice-based educational research with particular focus on undergraduate peer review in the enhancement of students' research / writing skills, and inclusive practice in the teaching of sensitive issues.
• Public history and policy engagement around the above issues, particularly local experiences of political change

• Political history with especial emphasis on:
• Comparative and international perspectives on local government and local citizenship / local civic nationalism 
• Scottish and British party politics and constitutional developments / debates 
• Public history, knowledge exchange and policy engagement in relation to all of the above topics
• Practice-based educational research with particular emphasis on formative assessment,  learner development  and inclusive practice in the teaching of sensitive topics

• Scottish Government / Parliament
• Local authorities / LGIU, COSLA etc
• Community and Heritage organisations 
• CND