Professor Leon Tikly, from the School of Education and Professor Helen Lambert from Bristol Medical School [Population Health Sciences], are among 40 outstanding social scientists who have been conferred to the Academy of Social Sciences this autumn.

Professor Tikly is UNESCO Chair in Inclusive, good quality education for all at the University of Bristol. He currently directs a UKRI-funded network plus in the area of Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures with partners in India, Rwanda, Somalia/ Somaliland and South Africa.

His scholarship over many years has focused on initiatives to improve the quality of education for disadvantaged learners, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and on the attainment of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic learners in the UK.

His work is informed theoretically by critical realism, postcolonial and decolonial perspectives and is underpinned by a commitment to social, environmental and epistemic justice.

Professor Tikly said: “I am deeply honoured to be admitted as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. I hope to use my new-found status to continue to advocate for expanding the educational opportunities available to the most disadvantaged and for the transformation of education and training systems in the UK, in Africa and across the globe in support of more just and sustainable futures for all.”