Professor Simon McGrath

Professor of Education (School of Education)

telephone: 01413303018
email: Simon.McGrath@glasgow.ac.uk

Biography

I hold the established Chair in Education. Before moving to this role in 2022, I was UNESCO Chair in International Education and Development at the University of Nottingham. I am also visiting professor at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.

I work on a range of aspects of the education-development relationship, particularly on vocational learning and diverse forms of work, and on integral human development. Most of my work has been in Africa though I have done some work in Europe, Asia and the Pacific.

I have been a government scientific advisor in both UK and South Africa, and have done extensive international policy work, most especially for UNESCO, the Commonwealth and SADC.

Research interests

I have worked extensively on education-work issues, incuding on the relationships between informal, nonformal and formal learning and various forms of work, formal, informal, provisioning, etc.

My current research projects are on rural and urban informal skills and development, education and skills for sustainable futures, work and just transitions and access to vocational education and training.

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2002 | 2001 | 1999

Number of items: 90.

2025

Alla-Mensah, Joyceline ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9850-8114 and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2025) Barriers to the participation of women in non-traditional skilled trades: the perspectives of women in the automotive trade in Ghana. International Journal of Training Research, (doi: 10.1080/14480220.2025.2483198) (Early Online Publication)

2024

Powell, Lesley, Cooper, Adam, Brown, Trent and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (Eds.) (2024) Learning for Livelihoods in the Global South: Theoretical and Methodological Lenses on Skills and the Informal Sector. Series: Routledge research in international and comparative education. Routledge: Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY. ISBN 9781032626475

Cooper, Adam, Brown, Trent, Powell, Lesley and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2024) Youth, skills, and informal sectors in the Global South: theoretical and methodological lenses on learning and livelihoods. In: Powell, Lesley, Cooper, Adam, Brown, Trent and McGrath, Simon (eds.) Learning for Livelihoods in the Global South: Theoretical and Methodological Lenses on Skills and the Informal Sector. Series: Routledge research in international and comparative education. Routledge: Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY, pp. 1-22. ISBN 9781032626475 (doi: 10.4324/9781032650944-1)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2024) Skill and livelihoods: some concluding ideas. In: Powell, Lesley, Cooper, Adam, Brown, Trent and McGrath, Simon (eds.) Learning for Livelihoods in the Global South: Theoretical and Methodological Lenses on Skills and the Informal Sector. Series: Routledge research in international and comparative education. Routledge: Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY, pp. 265-272. ISBN 9781032626475 (doi: 10.4324/9781032650944-20)

Powell, Lesley and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2024) A typology of informal sector workers – heterogeneity and the complexity of skills development responses. In: Powell, Lesley, Cooper, Adam, Brown, Trent and McGrath, Simon (eds.) Learning for Livelihoods in the Global South: Theoretical and Methodological Lenses on Skills and the Informal Sector. Series: Routledge research in international and comparative education. Routledge: Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY, pp. 96-116. ISBN 9781032626475 (doi: 10.4324/9781032650944-8)

Lotz-Sisitka, Heila, McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Ramsarup, Presha (2024) Oil, transport, water and food: a political-economy-ecology lens on VET in a climate changing world. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 76(2), pp. 281-306. (doi: 10.1080/13636820.2024.2320910)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Ramsarup, Presha (2024) Towards vocational education and training and skills development for sustainable futures. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 76(2), pp. 247-258. (doi: 10.1080/13636820.2024.2317574)

Muwaniki, Chenjerai, Wedekind, Volker and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2024) Agricultural vocational education and training for sustainable futures: responsiveness to the climate and economic crisis in Zimbabwe. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 76(2), pp. 430-446. (doi: 10.1080/13636820.2024.2317163)

Ramsarup, Presha, McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Lotz-Sisitka, Heila (2024) A landscape view of emerging sustainability responses within VET. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 76(2), pp. 259-280. (doi: 10.1080/13636820.2024.2320911)

Monk, David, Molebatsi, Palesa, McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378, Metelerkamp, Luke, Adrupio, Scovia, Openjuru, George, Robbins, Glen and Tshabalala, Themba (2024) Revisiting VET research paradigms: critical perspectives from the South. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, (doi: 10.1080/13636820.2023.2280972) (Early Online Publication)

2023

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2023) Education and development. In: Clarke, Matthew and Zhao, Xinyu (Andy) (eds.) Elgar Encyclopaedia of Development. Edward Elgar, pp. 214-219. ISBN 9781800372115

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Yamada, Shoko (2023) Skills for development and vocational education and training: current and emergent trends. International Journal of Educational Development, 102, 102853. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2023.102853)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2023) Education for the great socio-ecological transition. Religion and Development, 2(1), pp. 126-145. (doi: 10.30965/27507955-20230019)

Ramsarup, Presha, McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Lotz-Sisitka, Heila (2023) Reframing skills ecosystems for sustainable and just futures. International Journal of Educational Development, 101, 102836. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2023.102836)

Alla-Mensah, Joyceline and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2023) A capability approach to understanding the role of informal apprenticeship in the human development of informal apprentices. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 75(4), pp. 677-696. (doi: 10.1080/13636820.2021.1951332)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Russon, Jo-Anna (2023) TVET SI: Towards sustainable vocational education and training: thinking beyond the formal. Southern African Journal of Environmental Education, 39, (doi: 10.4314/sajee.v39.03)

McMullen, Jessica, Arakawa, Naoko, Anderson, Claire, Pattison, Luke and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2023) A systematic review of contemporary competency-based education and training for pharmacy practitioners and students. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 19(2), pp. 192-217. (doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2022.09.013)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378, Openjuru, George Ladaah, Lotz-Sisitka, Heila, Allais, Stephanie, Zeelen, Jacques, Wedekind, Volker, Ramsarup, Presha, Monk, David, Metelerkamp, Luke, Russon, Jo-Anna, Kyaligonja, Bonaventure, Robbins, Glen, Adrupio, Scovia, Ocan, David, Nyeko, Kenneth, Primo, Adoye, Molebatsi, Palesa, Tshabalala, Themba, Muhangi, Sidney and Openjuru, Maxwell (2023) Transitioning Vocational Education and Training in Africa: A Social Skills Ecosystem Perspective. Series: Bristol studies in comparative and international education. Bristol University Press: Bristol. ISBN 9781529224634 (doi: 10.47674/9781529224658)

2022

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2022) Skills futures in Africa. Prospects, 52(3-4), pp. 325-341. (doi: 10.1007/s11125-022-09622-9)

Muwaniki, Chenjerai, McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378, Manzeke-Kangara, Grace, Chamboko, Tafireyi and Wedekind, Volker (2022) Curriculum reform in agricultural vocational education and training in Zimbabwe: implementation challenges and possibilities. Journal of Vocational, Adult and Continuing Education and Training, 5(1), pp. 94-115. (doi: 10.14426/jovacet.v5i1.248)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2022) Development and education. In: Tierney, Robert J., Rizvi, Fazal and Erkican, Kadriye (eds.) International Encyclopaedia of Education (Fourth Edition). Elsevier Science: Amsterdam, pp. 52-59. ISBN 9780128186299 (doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-818630-5.01007-1)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378, Powell, Lesley, Alla-Mensah, Joyceline, Hilal, Randa and Suart, Rebecca (2022) New VET theories for new times: the critical capabilities approach to vocational education and training and its potential for theorising a transformed and transformational VET. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 74(4), pp. 575-596. (doi: 10.1080/13636820.2020.1786440)

Ramsarup, Presha, Lotz-Sisitka, Heila and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2022) A laminated, emergentist view of skills ecosystems. Journal of Critical Realism, 21(5), pp. 571-588. (doi: 10.1080/14767430.2022.2145768)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2022) Vocational education in the fourth industrial revolution by J. Avis, Palgrave Pivot, 2020. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 74(2), pp. 352-354. (doi: 10.1080/13636820.2021.2018227)[Book Review]

Puplampu, B. B. et al. (2022) The role of leaders in building research cultures in sub-Saharan African universities: a six-nation study. Africa Journal of Management, 8(2), pp. 171-193. (doi: 10.1080/23322373.2022.2039050)

2021

Wedekind, Volker, Russon, Jo-Anna, Ramsarup, Presha, Monk, David, Metelerkamp, Luke and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2021) Conceptualising regional skills ecosystems: reflections on four African cases. International Journal of Training and Development, 25(4), pp. 347-362. (doi: 10.1111/ijtd.12251)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Deneulin, Séverine (2021) Education for just transitions: lifelong learning and the 30th anniversary Human Development Report. International Review of Education, 67(5), pp. 637-658. (doi: 10.1007/s11159-021-09914-w)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378, Thondhlana, Juliet and Garwe, Evelyn (2021) Internationalisation of higher education and national development: the case of Zimbabwe. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 51(6), pp. 881-900. (doi: 10.1080/03057925.2019.1684241)

Thondhlana, Juliet, Abdulrahman, Hadiza, Garwe, Evelyn Chiyevo and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2021) Exploring the internationalization of Zimbabwe’s higher education institutions through a decolonial lens: postcolonial continuities and disruptions. Journal of Studies in International Education, 25(3), pp. 228-246. (doi: 10.1177/1028315320932319)

Avis, James, Atkins, Liz, Esmond, Bill and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2021) Re-conceptualising VET: responses to covid-19. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 73(1), pp. 1-23. (doi: 10.1080/13636820.2020.1861068)

2020

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378, Ramsarup, Presha, Zeelen, Jacques, Wedekind, Volker, Allais, Stephanie, Lotz-Sisitka, Heila, Monk, David, Openjuru, George and Russon, Jo-Anna (2020) Vocational education and training for African development: a literature review. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 72(4), pp. 465-487. (doi: 10.1080/13636820.2019.1679969)

2019

O’Shea, John and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2019) Contemporary factors shaping the professional identity of occupational therapy lecturers. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 82(3), pp. 186-194. (doi: 10.1177/0308022618796777)

Karlidag-Dennis, Ecem, McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Stevenson, Howard (2019) Educational policy-making and hegemony: monolithic voices from civil society. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 40(8), pp. 1138-1153. (doi: 10.1080/01425692.2019.1647091)

2018

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2018) Education and Development. Series: Routledge perspectives on development. Routledge: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY. ISBN 9781138211209 (doi: 10.4324/9781315453330)

2017

Crossley, Michael, Koya Vaka’uta, Cresantia Frances, Lagi, Rosiana, McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378, Thaman, Konai Helu and Waqailiti, Ledua (2017) Quality education and the role of the teacher in Fiji: mobilising global and local values. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 47(6), pp. 872-890. (doi: 10.1080/03057925.2017.1338938)

Bader, Lina R., McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378, Rouse, Michael J. and Anderson, Claire (2017) A conceptual framework toward identifying and analyzing challenges to the advancement of pharmacy. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 13(2), pp. 321-331. (doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2016.03.001)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378, Madziva, Roda and Thondhlana, Juliet (2017) Rethinking the employability of international graduate migrants: reflections on the experiences of Zimbabweans with degrees from England. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 41(2), pp. 238-259. (doi: 10.1080/0309877X.2015.1062853)

2016

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Powell, Lesley (2016) Skills for sustainable development: transforming vocational education and training beyond 2015. International Journal of Educational Development, 50, pp. 12-19. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2016.05.006)

2015

Ibhakewanlan, John-Okoria and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2015) Toward an African community-based research (ACBR) methodology. SAGE Open Medicine, 5(4), p. 2158244015613106. (doi: 10.1177/2158244015613106)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Gu, Qing (Eds.) (2015) Routledge Handbook of International Education and Development. Series: Routledge handbooks. Routledge: Abingdon, Oxon. ISBN 9780415747547

Kruss, Glenda, McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378, Petersen, Il-haam and Gastrow, Michael (2015) Higher education and economic development: the importance of building technological capabilities. International Journal of Educational Development, 43, pp. 22-31. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2015.04.011)

2014

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2014) Education and the post-2015 international development goals. International Journal of Educational Development, 39, pp. 1-3. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2014.08.006)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2014) The post-2015 debate and the place of education in development thinking. International Journal of Educational Development, 39, pp. 4-11. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2014.05.002)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2014) Education in small states: policies and priorities. Comparative Education, 50(4), pp. 509-510. (doi: 10.1080/03050068.2014.941175)[Book Review]

2013

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2013) Education and development: looking beyond 2015. International Journal of Educational Development, 33(2), p. 117. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2012.09.008)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2013) The weight and breadth of evidence: some reflections on the strengths of international education and development research. International Journal of Educational Development, 33(1), (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2012.07.005)

2012

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2012) Researching international education and development. International Journal of Educational Development, 32(6), pp. 709-710. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2012.05.003)

Lim, Z., Anderson, C. and McGrath, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2012) Professional skills development in a resource-poor setting: the case of pharmacy in Malawi. International Journal of Educational Development, 32(5), pp. 654-664. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2012.01.004)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2012) Building new approaches to thinking about vocational education and training and development: policy, theory and evidence. International Journal of Educational Development, 32(5), pp. 619-622. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2012.04.003)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2012) Vocational education and training for development: a policy in need of a theory? International Journal of Educational Development, 32(5), pp. 623-631. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2011.12.001)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Lugg, Rosemary (2012) Knowing and doing vocational education and training reform: evidence, learning and the policy process. International Journal of Educational Development, 32(5), pp. 696-708. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2012.02.004)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2012) Education, poverty and development. International Journal of Educational Development, 32(4), p. 493. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2012.04.001)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2012) The importance of educational alternatives. International Journal of Educational Development, 32(3), p. 367. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2012.01.006)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2012) Active agents: young people making social justice. International Journal of Educational Development, 32(2), pp. 205-206. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2011.10.005)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2012) The comparative advantage of international education: different places, different lenses, different voices. International Journal of Educational Development, 32(1), pp. 1-2. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2011.09.001)

2011

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2011) Journeying the long road to education for development. International Journal of Educational Development, 31(5), pp. 417-418. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2011.05.001)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2011) Drawing together the complex strands of education and human development. International Journal of Educational Development, 31(3), pp. 211-212. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2011.02.008)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2011) New actors and new modalities in education for development. International Journal of Educational Development, 31(2), pp. 97-98. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2010.10.002)

2010

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2010) Researching international education and development: IJED at thirty. International Journal of Educational Development, 30(6), pp. 535-536. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2010.07.001)

Colclough, Christopher, King, Kenneth and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2010) The new politics of aid to education-Rhetoric and reality. International Journal of Educational Development, 30(5), pp. 451-452. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2010.03.009)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2010) Beyond aid effectiveness: The development of the South African further education and training college sector, 1994-2009. International Journal of Educational Development, 30(5), pp. 525-534. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2010.03.011)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2010) Educational quality and the importance of context and purpose. International Journal of Educational Development, 30(4), pp. 335-336. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2010.04.001)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2010) Points of transition: vantage points on the journey to universal educational participation. International Journal of Educational Development, 30(3), pp. 225-226. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2010.02.001)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2010) The role of education in development: an educationalist's response to some recent work in development economics. Comparative Education, 46(2), pp. 237-253. (doi: 10.1080/03050061003775553)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2010) Addressing educational inequality. International Journal of Educational Development, 30(2), pp. 119-120. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2009.11.002)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2010) The right to quality education. International Journal of Educational Development, 30(1), pp. 1-2. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2009.09.001)

2009

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2009) Discourse and context: National and international conceptions of education and development. International Journal of Educational Development, 29(6), pp. 547-549. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2009.07.002)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2009) Education and development: Making a difference. International Journal of Educational Development, 29(4), pp. 331-333. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2009.04.001)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2009) On the limits of best practice. International Journal of Educational Development, 29(3), pp. 185-186. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2009.03.001)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Akoojee, Salim (2009) Vocational education and training for sustainability in South Africa: The role of public and private provision. International Journal of Educational Development, 29(2), pp. 149-156. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2008.09.008)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2009) Education at the margins. International Journal of Educational Development, 29(1), pp. 1-2. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2008.09.003)

2008

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2008) Education, culture and society: The complex dynamics of change. International Journal of Educational Development, 28(6), pp. 625-627. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2008.06.002)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2008) Caught between different worlds: Teachers and educational change. International Journal of Educational Development, 28(5), pp. 493-495. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2008.04.002)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2008) Education and development: Bringing the vulnerable back in. International Journal of Educational Development, 28(4), pp. 363-364. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2008.03.002)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2008) Education and development in diverse contexts. International Journal of Educational Development, 28(3), pp. 229-230. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2008.01.003)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2008) Educational change: Best practices and messy realities. International Journal of Educational Development, 28(2), pp. 115-117. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2007.12.001)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2008) Developing teachers and teaching. International Journal of Educational Development, 28(1), pp. 1-3. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2007.11.001)

2007

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2007) Complexity, identity and educational change. International Journal of Educational Development, 27(6), pp. 597-598. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2007.09.003)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2007) Mediating between global theory and local practices. International Journal of Educational Development, 27(5), pp. 483-485. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2007.07.001)

King, K., McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Rose, P. (2007) Beyond the basics: Educating and training out of poverty. International Journal of Educational Development, 27(4), pp. 349-357. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2007.03.001)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Akoojee, S. (2007) Education and skills for development in South Africa: Reflections on the accelerated and shared growth initiative for South Africa. International Journal of Educational Development, 27(4), pp. 421-434. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2006.07.009)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2007) Editorial. International Journal of Educational Development, 27(1), pp. 1-3. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2006.10.006)

2006

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and Badroodien, Azeem (2006) International influences on the evolution of skills development in South Africa. International Journal of Educational Development, 26(5), pp. 483-494. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2005.10.008)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378, Akoojee, Salim, Gewer, Anthony, Mabizela, Mahlubi, Mbele, Nimrod and Roberts, Jennifer (2006) An examination of the vocational education and training reform debate in Southern Africa. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 36(1), pp. 85-103. (doi: 10.1080/03057920500382655)

2005

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2005) 'Skills for productive citizenship for all': The place of skills development for micro and small enterprises in South Africa. Journal of Education and Work, 18(1), pp. 111-125. (doi: 10.1080/1363908052000332339)

2004

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 and King, Kenneth (2004) Knowledge-based aid: a four agency comparative study. International Journal of Educational Development, 24(2), pp. 167-181. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2003.10.008)

2002

King, Kenneth and McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2002) Globalisation, Enterprise and Knowledge: education, training and development in Africa. Series: Monographs in international education. Symposium Books. ISBN 9781873927496 (doi: 10.15730/books.33)

King, Kenneth, McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378, Rogerson, Christian and Visser, Kobus (2002) Learning-led competitiveness: a challenge South African development. Africa Insight, 32(4), pp. 28-35. (doi: 10.4314/ai.v32i4.22263)

2001

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2001) Research in a cold climate: towards a political economy of British international and comparative education. International Journal of Educational Development, 21(5), pp. 391-400. (doi: 10.1016/S0738-0593(00)00055-9)

1999

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (1999) Enterprise in Africa: Between poverty and growth. Practical Action Publishing. ISBN 9781853394782 (doi: 10.3362/9781780440774)

This list was generated on Sun Jun 15 06:28:37 2025 BST.

Jump to: Articles | Books | Book Sections | Book Reviews | Edited Books

Number of items: 90.

Articles

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2022) Skills futures in Africa. Prospects, 52(3-4), pp. 325-341. (doi: 10.1007/s11125-022-09622-9)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2009) Education at the margins. International Journal of Educational Development, 29(1), pp. 1-2. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2008.09.003)

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (2007) Editorial. International Journal of Educational Development, 27(1), pp. 1-3. (doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2006.10.006)

Books

McGrath, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2312-5378 (1999) Enterprise in Africa: Between poverty and growth. Practical Action Publishing. ISBN 9781853394782 (doi: 10.3362/9781780440774)

Book Sections

Book Reviews

Edited Books

This list was generated on Sun Jun 15 06:28:37 2025 BST.

Grants

I have been PI or Co-I on projects worth c£35m.

From January 2025, I wil be national lead on a £2,4m Horizon Europe grant, VETPrep, on access and retention in initial vocational education and training post-Covid.

Supervision

I am interested in supervising in the following areas:

skills for just transitions
education policies and human development
educational policies and sustainable development
learning for transformed professions
inclusive vocational education and training
skills for rural development
learning in urban informal economies

Black, Elizabeth
Exploring the support networks of modern apprentices in the Scottish childcare workforce
Nur, Jahid
Informal Apprenticeship for Human Development in the Global South: The Case of BRAC STAR in Expanding Capabilities for Underprivileged Urban Female Youth
Wei, Dichen
Skills Development in Rural China
Zheng, Anqi
Exploring aspirations of ethnic minority youth who enter higher education in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China

I have supervised 65 doctoral students to successful completion.

Main topic areas include:

skills for human development
African higher education
research cultures and systems
health professions education (esp. pharmacy, nursing, occupational therapy)
comparative education policies
political economy of skills

Teaching

I have taught at UG, PGT and PGR levels on lifelong learning, international education and development, and research methodologies.

I currently co-teach:

Vocational Education and Training for Development (MSc Ed Studies and MSc Education, Public Policy and Equity)

Professional activities & recognition

Prizes, awards & distinctions

2015: Atlas Award (Elsevier)
2016: Fellow (Academy of Social Sciences)
2005: Fellow (Royal Society for the Advancement of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce)

Editorial boards

2013: Journal of Vocational Education and Training
2018: Journal of Vocational Adult and Continuing Education and Training
2005: International Journal of Educational Development

Professional & learned societies

2015 - 2019: executive chair, United Kingdom Forum for International Education and Training

Additional information

I am Associate Dean: Research Culture for the College of Social Sciences

Simon McGrath profile pic

We use cookies

Necessary cookies

Analytics cookies

Clarity