Mel Ainscow
Professor of Education
Mel Ainscow is Professor of Education at the University of Manchester, UK. He served as Dean of Research, 1998-2001. Previously a head teacher, local education authority inspector and lecturer at the University of Cambridge, his work attempts to explore connections between inclusion, teacher development and school improvement. A particular feature of this research involves the development and use of participatory methods of inquiry that set out to make a direct impact on thinking and practice in systems, schools and classrooms. Mel was director of a UNESCO Teacher Education project on inclusive education which involved research and development in over 80 countries, and is co-director of the school improvement network 'Improving the Quality of Education for All (IQEA)'. He was until recently a member of the National Curriculum and Assessment Committee; he is consultant to UNESCO, UNICEF and Save the Children; and is co-director of the Excellence in Cities Leadership Development Unit.