Dr Colin Milligan
Senior Research Fellow
Academic Development and Student Learning
Colin Milligan undertakes institutional research and evaluation to support the University’s strategic decision making and to improve the student learning experience. Colin has responsibility for encouraging and supporting scholarly and evidence-based approaches to practice and developing pedagogic research capability. This role supports the greater use of evidence and evaluation through developing tools and delivering professional development for staff. Colin oversees institutional activities for the current QAAS (Quality Assurance agency Scotland) Enhancement Theme ‘Resilient Learning Communities’ and coordinate Scholarship projects funded by the University’s Strategy for Learning Innovation Fund. He recently contributed to an EU (Erasmus+) funded project: TRUST which supported the development of new FinTech Masters programmes in South Asia.
Colin joined GCU in 2007, having worked in the area of learning and development since 1993. He has undertaken a variety of roles in Further and Higher Education, as well as working in the commercial sector and as a Partner in a small consultancy. Colin’s research interests focus on self-regulated learning and the personal learning networks that individuals engage in to support their learning, particularly in workplace and informal settings such as those provided by Massive Open Online Courses. His work was included in our Education REF (Research Excellence Framework) submission in 2014 and he contributed to, and co-led the University’s Education submission in 2021. Colin attends the Learning Enhancement Sub-Committee and is a member of the University’s Research Ethics and Integrity Sub-Committee.
Colin reviews papers for many leading journals as well as assessing grant applications for the Economic & Social Research Council, British Council and DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft). Colin is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has supervised PhD students to completion as DoS and 2nd Supervisor and acted as external examiner for PhD and MRes students. Colin currently is a member of the supervision team for five PhD students focused on different aspects of learning and teaching.
Selected Publications
- Smith, C., Paterson, J., Cowell, A., & Milligan, C. (2022, August). Examining required flexibility in delivery of graduate apprenticeship to best meet stakeholder needs at a Scottish university. In 8th International Symposium for Engineering Education. University of Strathclyde.
- Houston, S., Milligan, C., Nimmo, A., & Robertson, A. (2022) Providing Continuous Learning and Professional Development through a Toolkit Design in Learning to teach online. In D. Forbes & R. Walker (eds.) Continuing professional learning and development for tertiary teachers. Springer.
- Milligan, C., & Littlejohn, A., (2017) Why study on a MOOC? The motives of students and professionals. Intl. Review of Research in Open & Distributed Learning 18, 2, 92-102.
- Milligan, C., & Littlejohn, A., (2016) How Health Professionals Regulate their Learning in Massive Open Online Courses The Internet and Higher Education 31, 113-121.
- Littlejohn, A., Hood, N., Milligan, C., & Mustain, P. (2016) Learning in MOOCs: motivations and self-regulated learning The Internet and Higher Education 29, 40-48
- Littlejohn, A. Milligan, C., Fontana, R.P., & Margaryan, A. (2016) Professional learning through everyday work: How finance professionals self-regulate their learning, Vocations & Learning, 9(2), 207- 226.
- Hood, N., Littlejohn, A., and Milligan, C., (2015) Context counts: How Learners’ Contexts influence learning in a MOOC. Computers and Education 91, 83-91
- Milligan, C., Fontana, R.P., Littlejohn, A., and Margaryan, A. (2015) Self-regulated learning behaviour in the finance industry. Journal of Workplace Learning. 27 (5), 387-402.
- Fontana, R.P., Milligan, C., Littlejohn, A., & Margaryan, A. (2015) Measuring self-regulated learning in the workplace. International Journal of Training & Development. 19 (1), 32-52.
- Milligan, C. & Littlejohn, A. (2014) Supporting professional learning in a massive open online course. Intl. Review of Research in Open & Distance Learning 15(5), 197-213.
- Milligan, C., Margaryan, A., and Littlejohn, A., (2013). Learning at transition for new and experienced staff. Journal of Workplace Learning 25 (4), 217-230.
- Milligan, C., Littlejohn, A., & Margaryan, A. (2013) Patterns of engagement in connectivist MOOCs. Journal of Online Learning and Teaching 9 (2), 149-159.
A full list of publications can be found on ‪Google Scholar
You can find Colin in Room B115 in the Britannia Building.