PhD Studentship available: Investigating the Economic Costs and Benefits of the Unviersal State-funded Provision of Early Years Care and Education

University PhD Research Studentship

Glasgow School for Business and Society/
(Wise) Research Centre

Reference Number: S2015GSBS002

Studentship Project Title: Investigating the Economic Costs and Benefits of the Universal State-funded Provision of Early Years Care and Education

Applications are invited for a full-time PhD research studentship at Glasgow Caledonian University within the Women in Scotland’s Economy (WiSE) Research Centre in the Glasgow School for Business and Society. The studentship is for a period of three years, subject to satisfactory progress and provides payment of tuition fees at the UK/EU rate plus an annual stipend of £14,800 [please note that students from outside the EU are required to pay the difference between International and EU fees, currently this would amount to £7,100 per annum]. The successful candidate will carry out up to 6 hours of academic-related work per week as part of their research training.

Research Discipline

Economics

Research Theme

Inclusive Societies/Equalities and Justice

Research Project Summary

Access to high quality affordable childcare can make a significant contribution to economic growth by encouraging labour market participation, particularly of mothers. State funded provision of childcare can also play an important role in local economic regeneration strategies and tackling area-based poverty in two major ways. Firstly, it offers increased employment opportunities within the local area and secondly, gives parents the opportunity to access the wider labour market. Similarly, it could improve the quality of educational provision for children in areas of deprivation and outcomes in later life. The Scottish Government’s White Paper on Independence (2013) highlighted the transformational potential of universal state-funded childcare provision.

The aim of this project would be to identify and measure the economic benefits over the short, medium and long run of providing a universal system of high quality early learning and childcare for children from age one to when they enter school. Similarly the project would also identify and measure the short, medium and long term economic costs associated with such provision.

Supervisory Team

Director of Studies: Emily Thomson, Senior Lecturer, LEAR, GSBS
Second supervisor: Dr Jim Campbell, Reader, LEAR, GSBS
Third supervisor: Dr Leaza McSorley, Lecturer, LEAR, GSBS

Staff Contact

Emily Thomson
Emily.Thomson@gcu.ac.uk (x3233)

How to Apply

Applicants should complete the University Research Application Form, available from: http://www.gcu.ac.uk/research/phdresearchopportunities/

Please send the form, stating the studentship project title and reference number, with a CV, copies of academic qualifications, references, and any other required documentation to: researchapplications@gcu.ac.uk

The closing date for applications is Monday 13 April 2015