News and Blog

Life in Lockdown: Evidence from the 2020 WISERD Education Multi-Cohort Study

WISERD surveyed young people in Years 7-12 about their home learning experiences during summer 2020, what they missed and whether they should be allowed to see friends. In addition to asking about resources for schoolwork, time spent learning and going to school during lockdown, we asked young people about their worries, how they had been helping…

WISERD launches Policy Press Civil Society book series

On 5 November 2020, we launched our new Civil Society book series with Policy Press. This new series provides interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives on the rapidly changing nature of civil society at local, regional, national and global scales.   The first four books draw on research findings from our previous ESRC Civil Society Research Centre….

Watch the WISERD Foundational Economy Online Series 2020

In September 2020, WISERD held the Foundational Economy Online Series 2020. This series of online events addressed key questions arising from the current COVID-19 crisis and explored the ways in which foundational thinking can contribute to social and economic repair. The series was made up of three online sessions:   Foundational Economy 2.0: building a…

Bangor University launches Civil Society research centre

Today sees the launch at Bangor University of the ESRC Civil Society centre: Changing Perspectives on Civic Stratification and Civil Repair. At the launch, Bangor University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, Professor Paul Spencer and WISERD Director Professor Sally Power, Cardiff University, will talk about WISERD, its role in Wales and the ways in which researchers…

Voluntary sector history brought to life in new digital archive

A WISERD Research Team comprised of Professor Paul Chaney, Dr Christala Sophocleous and Professor Daniel Wincott has worked with Wales Council for Voluntary Organisations (WCVA) and The National Library of Wales to create a historically significant digital archive of the Annual Reports of WCVA and its predecessor organisations. We are delighted to make this resource…

A recent report from WISERD Education Data Lab analyses the impact of Hafan Cymru’s Spectrum Project

The Spectrum Project is a specialist awareness-raising, preventative and bilingual educational programme, delivering sessions on all aspects of Healthy Relationships and VAWDASV (Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence) to pupils and staff in schools across Wales. It links with the priorities of Prevention, Protection and Support outlined in the Violence Against Women, Domestic…

Research demonstrates the importance of Careers Wales in Welsh schools

A new ADR-UK Data Insight report by WISERD Co-Director, Rhys Davis, reveals the important role played by Careers Wales in supporting those children most in need of careers guidance within Welsh Schools. Following the withdrawal of funding for the Connexions Network in 2010 – a dedicated careers guidance service for young people – concerns have…

Researchers develop a new model to analyse civil society’s welfare delivery in devolved nations

An empirical research study by WISERD Co-Director, Professor Paul Chaney, Dr Christala Sophocleous and Daniel Wincott, presents a new theoretical model for analysing the way that civil society delivers welfare support to citizens in devolved nations. Internationally there is a trend towards decentralised welfare systems. This new research seeks to systematically explore the breadth of factors…

UK productivity could be improved by a permanent shift towards remote working, research shows

Nine out of ten employees who have worked at home during lockdown would like to continue doing so in some capacity, research suggests. The report, by academics at Cardiff University and the University of Southampton, presents the first analysis of employee survey data focusing on homeworking, which was gathered for the Understanding Society Covid-19 Study. Homeworking…