Research and scholarship in learning development

The chapter begins by situating LD as a hybrid profession which cuts across traditional HE functions: teaching, research, and service. Like many others in hybrid roles, for Learning Developers, involvement in scholarship is somewhat limited due to lack of contractual need to engage in research pursuits. However, it is paramount for Learning Developers to engage with the pedagogical and theoretical underpinnings of their work to be able to articulate and disseminate LD’s values and principles beyond their own institutional practice, as this would allow LD to continue to establish itself as a more permanent feature of learning and teaching in HE. For that reason, this chapter presents an LD Scholarship Manifesto – collaboratively developed with the LD community – which will begin to spell out to those new to LD, but also to those beyond our practice, what it is that our scholarship entails and values. These efforts will contribute to outline LD’s scholarship distinctive features, and encourage more Learning Developers to join the call to expand LD’s knowledge base. The chapter also includes a range of opportunities currently available to those interested in engaging with LD scholarship.