Dr John Lockhart
John leads our MA International Social Work and Community Development course and is Co-director º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Centre in Community Connectedness and Co-operation. He brings a multidisciplinary approach to his teaching and research, with a particular interest in critical pedagogy and Paulo Freire’s pedagogical approach. He is an experienced Freirean educator and practitioner, and has contributed to the educational formation of a wide range of individuals and organisations internationally.
John teaches on International Social Work and Community Development at the University of Lancashire, and contributes to other programmes in social policy and community and social care. He also teaches research methods on the Professional Doctorate in Community and Social Care: Policy and Practice, and supervises a number of doctoral students. John’s research has included systematic reviews, participatory action research, and the use of pedagogical tools in social research. He edits the Journal of Community Research, and is actively involved in a range of academic networks.
John has many years of involvement in community-based learning, community organising and academic lecturing. He was first introduced to the frameworks and processes º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Paris-based Ecumenical Institute for the Development of Peoples, of which Paulo Freire was the first president, as a young community activist. He has continued his involvement in this work through Freire Institute, as well as through academic work at the University of York, the University of Manchester and the University of Lancashire. John has conducted extensive community-based research with trade unions, voluntary organisations and faith-based bodies. John was the co-organizer of international Paulo Freire conferences in the UK in 2014, and Cyprus in 2017.
- Co-director of Centre
- Director and Educator, Freire Institute
- Co-director, Centre in Community Connectedness and Co-operation (4C)
- Steering Committee, Centre for Education Research and Scholarship (CERS)
- Digital and Future-ready Learning Lead
- University Review Panel
- Ethics Panel
- Academic Integrity Team, Social Care and Community
- Changemakers programme – Curriculum transformation workstream
- PhD Social Policy and Adult Education, University of Manchester
- BA (Hons) Economic and Social Studies, University of Manchester
- Critical pedagogy
- Community development
- International social work
- Social and solidarity economy
- Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
- Freire Institute
- Strategic Development Committee, Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work
- International Committee, Joint Universities Social Work Association
- Critical Pedagogy Network
Use the links below to view their profiles:
- Freire Institute
- Institute for Planetary Resilience and Community Transformation (PACT)
- Centre for Education Research and Scholarship (CERS)
- Centre in Community Connectedness and Co-operation (4C)
- Bridging the gap: Academic knowledge and professional practice in youth and community work. Annual Symposium, Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work, 2025
- CCL Festival of Learning, University of Lancashire, 2025
- Global Sustainable Development Congress, Istanbul, 2025
- Critical Pedagogy Network conference, Birmingham Newman University, 2024
- Critical Pedagogy Network conference, Birmingham Newman University, 2024
- Reclaiming the political agenda: A call for action?, Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work , Wrexham University, 2024
- Buen vivir: Shared future for transformative change, Lancaster, 2024
- Connected futures: Places that work for young people, Youth Futures Foundation conference, 2023
- Social work education, research and practice in turbulent times, Conference º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Joint Universities Social Work Education Committee, 2023
- Formally informal: Pedagogy, community and practice, Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work, Derby University, 2023
- Pracademia: Creativity, community and collaboration, Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work, Glasgow University, 2022
- Reclaiming the 'social' in social work, Conference º£½ÇÊÓÆµ Joint Universities Social Work Education Committee, 2022
- Reflection, recovery and regeneration: Learning from the lived experiences of COVID-19, Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work (online conference), 2021
- UCLan teaching and learning conference, 2021
- Critical pedagogy and professional practice in youth and community work education, Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work, 2019
- Changing the story, University of Lancashire, 2019
- Education and transformative practice (2nd International Paulo Freire Conference), 2017
- Paulo Freire and transformative education: Changing lives and transforming communities. 1st International Paulo Freire Conference, 2014
Telephone:+44 (0)1772 896076
Email: Email:Dr John Lockhart
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