{"id":485,"date":"2024-07-09T14:23:04","date_gmt":"2024-07-09T13:23:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/sssj\/?page_id=485"},"modified":"2026-09-15T15:38:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T14:38:31","slug":"head-of-school","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/sssj\/head-of-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Head of School"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Research Matters!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If we want to create a more just society, we need high-quality social science research to help us understand what works in supporting the most disadvantaged in society, improving our justice systems, and informing effective policy. For this reason, research stands alongside teaching at the heart of what we do as a School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a research-intensive university, our teaching is informed by research, and we are committed to ensuring that all our graduates develop an enquiring, analytical, and critical approach to the world around them. That makes it especially rewarding to see our own students producing research of such a high standard, informed by a commitment to understanding complex social issues and making a positive difference in society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Social Sciences Student Journal<\/em> continues to go from strength to strength. Over the years it has become an important platform for showcasing the excellent work being undertaken by our students across a wide range of disciplines. The continued success of the journal is a testament both to the quality of student research within the School and to the dedication of the students who have contributed as authors, reviewers, and editors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This edition demonstrates the breadth and depth of social science enquiry. The articles contained within explore issues of justice, inequality, social movements, colonialism, imprisonment, gender, public policy, and political change. Drawing on a range of theoretical, historical, and empirical approaches, the authors demonstrate not only strong disciplinary knowledge but also the confidence to engage critically with some of the most significant social questions of our time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The journal is now entering another exciting phase in its development. It is important to recognise the outstanding contributions of the student editors who have helped establish and develop both the undergraduate and postgraduate editions of the journal. In particular, I would like to thank Saffron Baker, Student Editor of the sixth edition of the Undergraduate Social Sciences Student Journal, and Kelly Razey, Student Editor of the second edition of the Postgraduate Taught Social Sciences Student Journal. Their dedication, professionalism and commitment to showcasing student research have played an important role in strengthening the journal and providing a platform for student scholarship across the School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are equally delighted to welcome Erin Dawson, who will assume the role of Student Editor for both the undergraduate and postgraduate editions moving forward. We wish her every success and look forward to seeing the journal continue to flourish under her leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the great strengths of social science is its diversity, and the journal provides a unique opportunity to engage with research from across disciplines and perspectives. Each edition offers new insights and reminds us of the importance of curiosity, critical thinking, and evidence-based enquiry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would like to congratulate everyone involved in producing this edition and thank all those who have contributed to the journal’s continued success. I hope you enjoy reading these articles as much as I have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Daniel Muijs<\/strong>
Head of the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work<\/strong>
Queen’s University Belfast<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

September 2026<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Research Matters! If we want to create a more just society, we need high-quality social science research to help us understand what works in supporting the most disadvantaged in society, improving our justice systems, and informing effective policy. For this reason, research stands alongside teaching at the heart of what we do as a School. As a research-intensive university, our teaching is informed by research, and we are committed to ensuring that all our graduates develop an enquiring, analytical, and critical approach to the world around them. That makes it especially rewarding to see our own students producing research of such a high standard, informed by a commitment to understanding complex social issues and making a positive difference in society. The Social Sciences Student Journal continues to go from strength to strength. Over the years it has become an important platform for showcasing the excellent work being undertaken by our students across a wide range of disciplines. The continued success of the journal is a testament both to the quality of student research within the School and to the dedication of the students who have contributed as authors, reviewers, and editors. This edition demonstrates the breadth and depth of social science enquiry. The articles contained within explore issues of justice, inequality, social movements, colonialism, imprisonment, gender, public policy, and political change. Drawing on a range of theoretical, historical, and empirical approaches, the authors demonstrate not only strong disciplinary knowledge but also the confidence to engage critically with some of the most significant social questions of our time. The journal is now entering another exciting phase in its development. It is important to recognise the outstanding contributions of the student editors who have helped establish and develop both the undergraduate and postgraduate editions of the journal. In particular, I would like to thank Saffron Baker, Student Editor of the sixth edition of the Undergraduate Social Sciences Student Journal, and Kelly Razey, Student Editor of the second edition of the Postgraduate Taught Social Sciences Student Journal. Their dedication, professionalism and commitment to showcasing student research have played an important role in strengthening the journal and providing a platform for student scholarship across the School. We are equally delighted to welcome Erin Dawson, who will assume the role of Student Editor for both the undergraduate and postgraduate editions moving forward. We wish her every success and look forward to seeing the journal continue to flourish under her leadership. One of the great strengths of social science is its diversity, and the journal provides a unique opportunity to engage with research from across disciplines and perspectives. Each edition offers new insights and reminds us of the importance of curiosity, critical thinking, and evidence-based enquiry. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in producing this edition and thank all those who have contributed to the journal’s continued success. I hope you enjoy reading these articles as much as I have. Professor Daniel MuijsHead of the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social WorkQueen’s University Belfast September 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1441,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-485","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/sssj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/485","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/sssj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/sssj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/sssj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1441"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/sssj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=485"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/sssj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/485\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":723,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/sssj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/485\/revisions\/723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.qub.ac.uk\/sssj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}