About
Michael is Co-Director of the Leadership, Effective Education and Policy (LEEP) research centre and is also the Southampton Education School’s Research Impact Champion. He is currently a Visiting Professor at the University of Turku, Finland.
His research draws principally on sociological approaches to the education/work nexus and has substantive interests in higher education policy, labour markets, employability and marketisation. An ongoing theme in his research is the construction of identities and how policy and social changes impact on institutions and stakeholders. His work combines critical conceptual analysis with an interest in developing practical tools and resources that can aid future career progression. He has applied theories of capitals, credentialism, value and identity to address these issues.
His work often centres on education, work and identity and how individuals understand the value and meaning of their current and future employment and develop work identities. He's interested in the concept of meaningful work and its different dimensions.
He has received research funding from the ESRC, UKRI, Research England, Higher Education Academy (Advance HE), HEFCE (OfS) and the Greek Education Ministry to develop this research agenda. He is on the editorial boards of Journal of Education and Work, Higher Education, British Journal of Sociology of Education and Higher Education Policy. He was previously a Visiting Professor at the University of Eastern Finland.
Career history
2022- Professorial Chair, Southampton Education School, University of Southampton.
2016-2022 Associate Professor, Southampton Education School, University of Southampton.
2011-2016 - Lecturer, Southampton Education School, University of Southampton.
2008-2011 - Lecturer, School of Public Policy, Keele University.
2007-2008 - Research Associate, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University.
2005-2006 - ESRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University.