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Humanities & Social Sciences inaugural lecture series

The Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences is relaunching its inaugural lecture series in 2025.

Timetable

A group of students in a lecture theatre
Come along to one of our inaugural lectures, showcasing research across our six departments.

Our recently appointed professors from across our six departments will present the story of their route to become a professor, and the achievements that have brought them to this point.

Between them, they will provide insight into the many different ways academics can demonstrate their contributions to academic life across the spectrum of research, teaching, management and leadership activity.

Please note: Some details may change. Please check this page regularly for updates.

May 2025

This inaugural lecture explores the foundational myths and narratives that underpin contemporary understandings of education, civic engagement, and policy. Drawing on the concept of “imagined orders,” Prof Sandoval-Hernandez argues that education is neither a natural nor a neutral construct, but rather a powerful, socially constructed narrative—one that shapes how societies define progress, citizenship, and justice. Through an examination of international assessments such as ICCS, the lecture critiques the growing reliance on data as a surrogate for truth, while also acknowledging its value as a tool for analysis and policymaking. It highlights the limitations of metrics in capturing the complexities of civic life and educational purpose. The lecture concludes with a call to reimagine civic education—shifting away from compliance and towards meaningful democratic participation—and invites educational researchers and policymakers to reflect on their role in sustaining, or transforming, the stories we live by.

Please register via this form to attend.

August 2025

September 2025

November 2025

Enquiries

If you have any questions, please contact us.

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