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By the sector, for the sector
Research and insight
Insight powered by community.
At FACE we are keen to generate insight that helps our community build the knowledge to support equitable educational opportunities. Ideas raised by members at our conference and Summit are synthesised by our research and insight team into research questions. We then offer members the chance to contribute, through primary and secondary data collection and analysis.
Publications
Our annual publication is a state of the sector volume, drawing together contributions from people across the sector. FACE members can write for it, and every edition is published open access, so anyone can read it, member or not.
Research projects
We fund research in response to what members tell us matters. Priorities raised at the Summit shape the questions we pursue, and our research and insight team turns them into projects that members can take part in. This programme will grow over time as new projects begin.
Discouraged by Discourse? A Social Media Discourse Analysis on Attitudes Toward Higher Education
A review of the outputs from our January 2025 Summit identified a need to understand what is influencing young people's decisions not to go to university. The project runs in three phases.
Nov 2025 to Jun 2026
The social media influencers shaping young people's decisions not to go to university.
Oct 2026 to Jun 2027
The influence of parents and their own understanding of the value of higher education.
Oct 2027 to Jun 2028
The value of higher education to employers and how it meets industry needs.
For Phase 1 we have recruited an academic with expertise in discourse analysis to review the content of a number of social media influencer accounts identified by our research and insight team. The findings from Phase 1 will be presented at our annual conference at the end of June 2026.
Read the project findings ›