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Department of Education

Prof Susan James Relly

Professor of Vocational Education and Deputy Director of Department

College Affiliation: Green Templeton College

Susan is Deputy Director of the department, and Associate Head (Education) in the Social Sciences Division. She is a Governing Body Fellow at Green Templeton College.

Susan completed a B.Ed at  Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia, and read for a MSc in Comparative and International Education and a DPhil in Education at the University of Oxford. Susan’s entire career has been in education in various forms: she taught in secondary schools in Australia and England before starting her academic career.

Susan’s research interests are in the following areas:

  • Technical and vocational education and training policy
  • Vocational excellence
  • Apprenticeship
  • Work based and professional learning
  • Quality and esteem in FE
  • Territory landscape
  • Skills economy

Funded Research Projects:

  • Good people in a flawed system: the challenges of mainstreaming excellence in technical education

    • Sept 2018- April 2019

    WorldSkills UK (£12,000)

  • The vocational formation of world skills competitions' Training Managers: how does it translate in FE and PTP delivery

    • 2018

    WorldSkills UK

  • Who pays and who trains? A comparative study of apprenticeship systems across different national contexts

    • Oct 2016–Sept 2017

    The QATAR Foundation (£78,984) - Co-Principal Investigator

  • The Landscape of Private Training Providers

    • Oct 2015- Oct 2016

    The Gatsby Charitable Foundation (£8,670.22) - Principal Investigator

  • Principal Investigator, ‘Developing and Understanding Vocational Excellence’ project

    • June 2008 – Jan 2016

    National Apprenticeship Service (Skills Funding Agency) (£1,074,931.70) - Principal Investigator

  • Evaluation on the Skills Competition CPD Program

    • April 2014 – Jan 2015

    The Education & Training Foundation (£15,000) - Principal Investigator

  • Apprenticeships, Employer engagement, and Vocational Formation in England’ project

    • Nov 2012 – Aug 2013

    British Council China (£26,475) - Principal Investigator

  • ‘Modelling Vocational Excellence (MoVE)’ project

    • Mar2011 – May 2012

    WorldSkills Foundation (£10,250) - Research Fellow

  • ‘Graduates on the property ladder: skills, work and employment in a ‘graduatising’ industry’ project

    • Jan 2011 – Apr 2012

    ESRC Small Grant Award (£100,000) - Principal Investigator

  • ‘Comparative study of vocational qualifications and their impact in raising skills in England and South Africa’ project

    • Oct 2005 – Sept 2007

    Leverhulme Early Career Development Fellowship (£49,279) - Research Fellow

Doctoral Applications

Susan welcomes doctoral applications from students interested in the following research areas:

  • Vocational education and training policy
  • Apprenticeship and work based learning
  • Social mobility and non-graduate occupations
  • Further education, teaching, learning and assessment
  • Quality and esteem in further education

Publications:

  • Featured Publications

    • Chankseliani, M, James Relly, S, Laczik, A (2016) “Overcoming vocational prejudice: how can skills competitions improve the attractiveness of vocational education and training in the UK?”, British Educational Research Journal. Wiley: 24 months.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3218

    • Chankseliani, M, James Relly, S (2016) “Three-capital approach to the study of young people who excel in vocational occupations: a case of WorldSkills competitors and entrepreneurship”, International journal for research in vocational education and training.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.13152/IJRVET.3.1.4

    • Tholen, G, Relly, SJ, Warhurst, C, Commander, J (2016) “Higher education, graduate skills and the skills of graduates: the case of graduates as residential sales estate agents”, British Educational Research Journal. Wiley.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3222

    • Chankseliani, MAIA, James Relly, SUSAN (2015) “From the provider-led to an employer-led system: implications of apprenticeship reform on the private training market”, Journal of Vocational Education & Training. Informa UK Limited.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2015.1076499

    • Chankseliani, M, James Relly, S, Mayhew, K (2015) WorldSkills competitors and entrepreneurship.

    • James, S, Warhurst, C, Tholen, G, Commander, J (2013) “What we know and what we need to know about graduate skills”, Work, Employment and Society.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0950017013500116

    • JAMES RELLY, S “The political rhetoric of parity of esteem”, Oxford Review of Education. Taylor & Francis (Routledge).
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2020.1866522

    • JAMES RELLY, S “Moving from competence to excellence: The role of training managers in providing pedagogical leadership in UK further education”, Journal of Further and Higher Education. Taylor & Francis (Routledge).
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2020.1812548

  • Books

    • Hayward, G, James, S (2004) Balancing the Skills Equation. Bristol: Policy Press.

  • Book chapters

    • Relly, SJ (2022) “Understanding the Purpose and Standing of Technical and Vocational Education and Training”, In: Professional and Practice-based Learning. 49-62
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-96237-1_3

    • JAMES RELLY, S, KEEP, E (2019) “Recognizing and Developing Vocational Excellence Through Skills Competitions”, In: S McGrath, M Mulder, J Papier, R Suart (eds.) Handbook of Vocational Education and Training: Developments in the Changing World of Work. Springer.

    • JAMES RELLY, S, KEEP, E (2018) “What is vocational excellence?”, In: R McLean, M Mulder (eds.) Handbook of Vocational Education and Training.

    • James, SF, Warhurst, C (2013) “Questioning the UK government’s vision of higher education and social mobility: evidence from a non-graduate occupation”, In: S Natale, A Libertella (eds.) Higher Education: economic and social mobility. New York: Global Scholarly Publications.

    • James, SF, Bryson,, J, Keep, E (2012) “Recruitment and Selection”, In: S Bach, M Edwards (eds.) Managing Human Resources: Human resource Management in transition. 5th Edition. Chichester: Wiley.

    • Keep, E, James, SF (2012) “Are Skills the Answer to Bad jobs? Incentives to Learn at the Bottom end of the Labour Market”, In: C Warhurst, F Carre, P Findlay, C Tilly (eds.) Are Bad jobs Inevitable?: Trends, Determinants and Responses to Job Quality in the Twenty-First Century. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    • James, SF, Keep, E (2011) “Employer Demand for Apprenticeships”, In: T Dolphin, T Lanning (eds.) Rethinking Apprenticeships. London: Institute for Public Policy Research IPPR. 55-65

    • Grunert, KG, James, S, Moss, P (2010) “Tough Meat, Hard Candy: Implications for Low-Wage Work in the Food-Processing Industry”, In: LOW-WAGE WORK IN THE WEALTHY WORLD. 367-420

    • James, S, Lloyd, C (2008) “Supply Chain pressures and migrant workers: Deteriorating job quality in the United Kingdom food-processing industry”, In: Project Muse 4. DUMMY PUBID. 211-246

    • Dutton, E, Warhurst, C, Lloyd, C, James, S, Commander, J, Nickson, D (2008) “"Just like the elves in Harry Potter": Room attendants in United Kingdom hotels”, In: Project Muse 4. DUMMY PUBID. 96-130

    • James, S, Lloyd, C (2008) “Supply Chain pressures and migrant workers: Deteriorating job quality in the United Kingdom food-processing industry”, In: Low-Wage Work in the United Kingdom. 211-246

    • Dutton, E, Warhurst, C, Lloyd, C, James, S, Commander, J, Nickson, D (2008) “"Just like the elves in Harry Potter": Room attendants in United Kingdom hotels”, In: Low-Wage Work in the United Kingdom. 96-130

    • James, SF (2008) “Learning to Cook: Analysing Apprentice's Knowledge and Skill Construction in the Workplace”, In: F Rauner, R Maclen (eds.) Handbook of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Research. Dordrecht: Springer.

    • James, SF (2007) “To Cook or not to Cook: Participant Observation as a Data Collection Technique”, In: G Walford (ed.) Methodological developments in ethnography. Oxford: Elsevier.

    • James, SF, Hayward, G (2004) “Producing Skills: conundrums and possibilities”, In: G Hayward, S James (eds.) Balancing the skills equation: key issues and challenges for policy and practice. Bristol: Policy Press.

    • James, SF (2004) “Becoming a chef: the politics and culture of learning”, In: G Hayward, S James (eds.) Balancing the Skills Equation: Key issues and challenges for policy. Bristol: The Policy Press. 219-243

    • JAMES RELLY, SF, KEEP, E “Recognizing and Developing Vocational Excellence through Skills Competitions”, In: Handbook of Vocational Education and Training.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49789-1_112-1

    • JAMES RELLY, S, KEEP, E “Employers and meeting the Government's apprenticeship target: what could possibly go wrong?”, In: Where next for apprenticeships?.

  • Conference papers

    • James Relly, SF, Nokelaninen, P, Smith, H, Ali Rahimi, M, Stasz, C What contributes to vocational excellence? Characteristics and experiences of competitors in WorldSkills London 2011. (Sidney)

    • James Relly, SF, Commander, J, Tholen, G, Warhust, C 'Social skills matter: the case of estate agents’. (Leeds)

    • James Relly, SF, Thoeln, G, Commander, J, Warhust, C ‘Graduate skills or the skills of graduates, what matters most? An analysis from a graduatising occupation’. (Stockholm)

    • James Relly, SF, Nokelaninen, P, Smith, H, Ali Rahimi, M, Stasz, C What contributes to vocational excellence? Characteristics and experiences of competitors in WorldSkills London 2011. (Sidney)

    • James Relly, SF, Warhurst, C, Commander, J, Tholen, G ‘Higher Education: Graduate knowledge and skills or finishing school?’.

    • James Relly, SF, Grunert, K, Moos, P The Food Processing Industry in Europe & the US: some case study evidence. (San Jose)

    • James Relly, SF, Keep, E Are bad jobs inevitable? Incentives to learn at the bottom end of the labour market. (New Jersy)

    • James Relly, SF Qualifications, Professional Identity and Work-based Learning. (Tampere)

    • James Relly, SF Learning to Cook: the Dichotomous Nature of Modern Apprenticeships. (Chicago)

  • Journal articles

    • JAMES RELLY, S (2022) “Unpacking the tensions between local and national skills policy: employers, colleges, and Local enterprise Partnerships as collaborative anchors”, London Review of Education.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.14324/LRE.20.1.46

    • Chankseliani, M, James Relly, S (2016) “Three-capital approach to the study of young people who excel in vocational occupations: a case of WorldSkills competitors and entrepreneurship”, International journal for research in vocational education and training. 3(1)
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.13152/IJRVET.3.1.4

    • Chankseliani, M, James Relly, S, Laczik, A (2016) “Overcoming vocational prejudice: how can skills competitions improve the attractiveness of vocational education and training in the UK?”, British Educational Research Journal. 42(4)
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3218

    • Tholen, G, Relly, SJ, Warhurst, C, Commander, J (2016) “Higher education, graduate skills and the skills of graduates: the case of graduates as residential sales estate agents”, British Educational Research Journal. 42(3) 508-523.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3222

    • Chankseliani, MAIA, James Relly, SUSAN (2015) “From the provider-led to an employer-led system: implications of apprenticeship reform on the private training market”, Journal of Vocational Education & Training. (4)
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2015.1076499

    • James Relly, SF, Wilde, S (2015) “WorldSkills UK training managers: Midas touch or fools' gold?”, International Journal of Research in Vocational Education and Training.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.13152/IJRVET.2.2.1

    • James, S, Warhurst, C, Tholen, G, Commander, J (2013) “What we know and what we need to know about graduate skills”, Work, Employment and Society. 27(6) 952-963.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0950017013500116

    • Keep, E, James, S (2012) “A Bermuda triangle of policy? 'Bad jobs', skills policy and incentives to learn at the bottom end of the labour market”, JOURNAL OF EDUCATION POLICY. 27(2) 211-230.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2011.595510

    • Caroli, E, Gautie, J, Lloyd, C, Lamanthe, A, James, S (2010) “Delivering Flexibility: Contrasting Patterns in the French and the UK Food Processing Industry”, BRITISH JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS. 48(2) 284-309.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8543.2010.00792.x

    • Lloyd, C, James, S (2008) “Too much pressure? Retailer power and occupational health and safety in the food processing industry”, WORK EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIETY. 22(4) 713-730.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0950017008098366

    • James, SF (2006) “Learning to Cook: Production Learning Environment in Kitchens”, Learning Environments Research. 9(1) 1-22.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-005-9001-5

    • Tholen, G, Warhurst, C, Commander, J, Lindsay, J, James, S “The Five Obstacles that Hamper Better Understanding of Graduate Labour and Skills”, SKOPE Issues paper No.27.

    • JAMES RELLY, S “The political rhetoric of parity of esteem”, Oxford Review of Education.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2020.1866522

    • JAMES RELLY, S “Moving from competence to excellence: The role of training managers in providing pedagogical leadership in UK further education”, Journal of Further and Higher Education.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2020.1812548

    • JAMES RELLY, S, LACZIK, A “Apprenticeship, employer engagement and vocational formation: a process of collaboration”, Journal of Education and Work.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2021.1983524

  • Reports

    • JAMES RELLY, S, ROBSON, J, LACZIK, A, RANDHAWA, A, Emms, K, Aizawa, I, Dong, L, Hwang, S, PINTO, V, Zlock, Z (2021) Drivers of technical excellence in the skills economy. London: WorldSkills UK.

    • JAMES RELLY, S (2019) Good people in a flawed system: the challenges of mainstreaming excellence in technical education.

    • JAMES RELLY, SF, Nokelainen, P (2017) What contributes to vocational excellence? A study of the characteristics of WorldSkills UK participants for WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017. Oxford: OUC.

    • James Relly, SF, Holmes, C, Mayhew, K (2015) Learning environments to develop vocational excellence. http://vocationalexcellence.education.ox.ac.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Project-2-Phase-2-Final-Report-Learning-environments-to-develop-vocational-excellence.pdf:

    • Wilde, S, James, SF, Mayhew, K (2015) Training Managers: Benefits from and barriers to WorldSkills UK participation. Oxford: Oxford University Consulting.

    • James Relly, SF, Allen, J, Mayhew, K (2015) Further education college participation in worldSkills and other competitions. http://vocationalexcellence.education.ox.ac.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Project-4-Further-education-college-participation-in-WorldSkills-and-other-skills-competitions.pdf:

    • Chankseliani, M, James Relly, S, Mayhew, K (2015) WorldSkills competitors and entrepreneurship.

    • Chankseliani, M, James Relly, Susan, Mayhew, Ken (2015) “Benefits of developing vocational excellence: a report to the National Apprenticeship Service of Project 3 (phase II) of the DUVE suite of projects”, In: Benefits of Developing Vocational Excellence. A Report to the NationalApprenticeship Service of Project 3 (Phase II) of the DUVE suite of projects.

    • James Relly, SF, Rodriguez Leal, T, Mayhew, K (2014) Final Evaluation Report on the Skills Competition CPD Programme.. Oxford: Oxford University Consulting.

    • James Relly, SF, Rodriguez Leal, T, Mayhew, K (2014) Interim Evaluation Report on the Skills Competition CPD Programme. Oxford: Oxford University Consulting.

    • James Relly, SF, Nokelainen, P, Stasz, C (2014) “What contributes to vocational excellence? A pilot study of the individual characteristics of the WorldSkills UK 2011 squad”, In: SKOPE Research Paper. Cardiff: SKOPE.

    • James, SF, Mayhew, K, Chankseliani, M, Laczik, A (2013) “Benefits of developing vocational excellence: a report to the National Apprenticeship Service. Oxford: SKOPE”, In: Benefits of Developing Vocational Excellence A Report to the National Apprenticeship Service of Project 3 of the DUVE suite of projects.

    • James, S, Holmes, C, Mayhew, K (2013) “Learning Environments to Develop vocational Excellence. Oxford: SKOPE”, In: A Report to the National Apprenticeship Service of Project 2 of the DUVE suite of projects.. Oxford: SKOPE.

    • James, SF, Mayhew, K, Laczik, A, Mordarska, M (2013) Report on Apprenticeships, Employer Engagement and Vocational Formation in England. Oxford: Oxford University Consulting.

    • James, S, Nokelainen, P, Stasz, C (2013) What contributes to Vocational Excellence? A study of the WorldSkills UK squad 2013. A Report to the National Apprenticeship Service. Oxford: SKOPE..

    • James, SF, Nokelainen, P, Smith, H, Rahimi, MA, Stasz, C (2012) What contributes to vocational excellence? Overview from a study conducted at WorldSkills 2011. Madrid: WorldSkills Foundation.

    • James Relly, SF, Holmes, C (2012) “Developing Vocational Excellence: Learning Environments within Work Environments”, In: SKOPE Research Paper. Cardiff and Oxford Universities.

    • James, SF, Nokelainen, P, Stasz, C (2012) Developing and Understanding Vocational Excellence: individual attributes and characteristics, report to WorldSkills UK. Oxford: SKOPE.

    • James, SF, Chankseliani, M (2012) Skills, Work and Employment in the Real Estate Industry, report to AssetSkills Northampton. Oxford: SKOPE.

    • James Relly, SF, Keep, E (2010) “Recruitment and Selection – The Great Neglected Topic”, In: SKOPE Research Paper. Cardiff: SKOPE.

    • James Relly, SF (2010) “What is apprenticeship?”, In: SKOPE Issues Paper. University of Oxford: SKOPE.

    • James Relly, SF, Keep, E (2010) “What Incentives to Learn at the Bottom End of the Labour Market?”, In: SKOPE Research Paper. Cardiff: Cardiff University, SKOPE.

    • James Relly, SF (2009) “The Skills Training Levy in South Africa: Skilling the Workforce or Just Another Tax?”, In: SKOPE Issues Paper. Cardiff: Cardiff University: SKOPE.

    • James Relly, SF (2006) “Adding new ingredients to an old recipe: NVQs and the influence of CATERBASE”, In: Skope issues paper. Oxford: ESRC Centre on Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance (SKOPE).

    • James Relly, SF, Hayward, G, Oh, SA (2002) Alternative Models of Provision Project Working Paper No. 3: Work-related Learning. Oxford: Department of Educational Studies.

    • James Relly, SF, Hayward, G Diversity in Learning: Establishing the Cognitive Styles and Learning Strategies of Young People in the Youth Justice System. Oxford: Department of Educational Studies.

    • James Relly, SF, Warhurst, C, Commander, J, Lindsay, K, Tholen, G “The Five Obstacles that Hamper Better Understanding of Graduate Labour and Skills”, In: SKOPE Issues Paper. Cardiff: Cardiff University.

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