Shift Learning Case Studies
While some of Shift’s work was confidential, we are grateful to have received client permission to share the following case studies of projects we completed.
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- Awarding organisations
- English Language Learning and International Education
- Public sector and not-for-profit
- Publishing, media and EdTech
- Schools
- Universities, HE and FE
Technician data
Prior to the creation of the UK Institute of Technical Skills & Strategy in August 2023, MI TALENT identified a lack of data on technicians in the UK. To support researchers working in the new institute, MI TALENT commissioned Shift to detail existing data sources on technicians and provide an overview of the existing technical community.
Universities, HE and FE
Impact of the TALENT programme
MI TALENT were eager to understand the impact of the TALENT programme on the technical community in UK higher education and research. They also wanted to track changes and assess developments within the sector since the previous technical community survey in 2021.
Universities, HE and FE
Cognitive interviews with seldom-heard participants living in Wales
We partnered with NatCen on a cognitive testing project for a client based in Wales. The client is designing new questions on lived experiences and wanted to ensure that respondents consistently understood the survey questions.
Public sector and not-for-profit
GCSE English and Maths
Cambridge OCR wanted to conduct foundational research into the current landscape of GCSE English and Maths delivery. The work’s scope included the challenges faced by educators, their attitudes towards Awarding Organisations and the current GCSE curriculum, and their views around potential curriculum reform. It was completed ahead of the UK government Curriculum and Assessment Review and any subsequent reforms.
Awarding organisations, Schools
Interviews supporting the evaluation of reforms to regulating equality of opportunity
In 2023, the Office for Students (OfS) published reforms to its approach to regulating equality of opportunity in English higher education, including access and participation plans (APPs). Across three projects in 2023-2025, Shift ran in-depth interviews with representatives in higher education providers who were overseeing APPs, sector stakeholders (known as key informants) and collaborative partners, to investigate their initial perspectives on these reforms.
Student personas and new markets exploration
New College Durham noticed a decrease in their higher education students studying on campus over the previous five years. They also wanted to increase applicants from their core markets, explore expanding into new markets to grow their customer base, and understand their current market position in relation to other local HE providers.
Universities, HE and FE
Publishing futures
This year, we worked with Cambridge University Press on a radical, community-led review of the open research publishing ecosystem. Our aim was to identify bold, workable solutions that support innovation and meet the evolving needs of all stakeholders.
Publishing, media and EdTech, Universities, HE and FE
BA European Politics course title research
Shift Insight previously conducted research with King’s College London to support the redevelopment of their European Politics degree, which included changing its title to better reflect its content. Before finalising the course title, King’s wanted to conduct additional research to confirm which one appeals most to prospective students, and the importance of course titling within their decision-making.
Universities, HE and FE
Graduate Outcomes Survey
The University of London (UoL) wanted support with tracking graduate outcomes. Shift were commissioned to conduct research that involved an online survey sent to recent UoL graduates.
Universities, HE and FE
STEM education research
Cengage commissioned Shift to help deepen their understanding around innovative teaching methods, educators’ ability to adapt to new technology and engage STEM students and improve their learning outcomes.
Publishing, media and EdTech
Graduate Success
UAL wanted to support the development of a new narrative around creative education. They commissioned Shift to gather data on the life histories of a select group of UAL graduates, to understand how the experience of studying at the university has contributed to their achievements.
Universities, HE and FE
Race Equality Charter Survey
Advance HE’s Race Equality Charter helps institutions in their work to identify and address the barriers facing Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff and students, while also providing a framework for action and improvement. The REC survey is a key tool for achieving this aim. Advance HE recently updated the charter and redesigned the survey to ensure it was well understood. This included reducing the number of questions, adapting and creating new ones and providing more guidance around terminology. Shift conducted two phases of research to help Advance HE better understand how the updated REC survey was received and understood by participants and institutions.
Public sector and not-for-profit, Universities, HE and FE