Andrea has been working at Edge since 2017 and now leads Edge’s research work. She has over 20 years of education research and policy evaluation experience while working at Oxford and Warwick Universities and Edge.
Her broad interests cover Vocational Education and Training (VET) and apprenticeships at all levels, employer engagement in VET and general education, skills development, innovative/alternative higher education, youth transition and trajectories and provisions for young people and adults from disadvantaged backgrounds. She has also conducted research, for example, about the disadvantaged/disengaged group of young people, SEND group, health education in schools. She has an active interest in international and comparative research.
Andrea has been teaching and supervising MSc students in Higher Education and International and Comparative Education. She has taught at Oxford (UK), Perm (Russia), Stuttgart, Oldenburg (Germany) and Debrecen (Hungary).
Andrea has an MSc and a DPhil from the University of Oxford, Department of Education where she holds an Honorary Research Fellowship and she is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Current research projects
- Degree Apprenticeships in England, 2022-2024
- The disappearing middle? Skills, education, and jobs in the middle of the occupational structure, January 2024-December 2024
- Opportunity, equality and agency in England's new VET landscape: a longitudinal study of post-16 transitions in collaboration with Kings College London. October 2019 – September 2024, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
- Ofsted Inspection in Further Education Colleges in England Oct 2023-June 2024
- Raising of the Participation Age (RPA) in England – has it worked? funded by the Nuffield Foundation, September 2023-December 2024
- VET and the Integration of Migrants February 2024-December 2024
- Building bridges between higher education and employment: learning from practically-based HE June 2023-September 2024
- Exploring T Levels: learner profiles, experiences and perceptions June 2023-December 2024
- INT-Hybrid - An international comparative study of work-based learning programmes in Higher Education, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany, June 2021 - May2024
Professional activities
- Member of the editorial board of the Journal of Vocational Education and Training;
- Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Education, University of Oxford
- Member of the Cedefop Community of Apprenticeship Experts (https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/events-and-projects/networks/cedefop-community-apprenticeship-experts)
- Co-opted board member (network board member) of European Research network Vocational Education and Training (VETNET)
- Associate Member of ASEM Life Long Learning Hub, Research Network 2, Workplace Learning
- Convening the European Research Review Group Network (include link)
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Book chapters and journal articles
Emms, K., Kersh, N., and Laczik, A. (Submitted, Summer 2024) Fostering practically based learning spaces through industry engaged higher education (HE) models. London Review of Education. Special Issue:Third space roles and identities in educational settings
Gewirtz, S., McPherson, C., Bayrakdar, S., Maguire, M., Weavers, A., Winch, C., Laczik, A., Newton, O. and Wolf, A. (Accepted) ‘Creating more equitable school-to-work transitions for young people not taking the university route: an ‘equalities-ecologies’ framework’. Journal of Vocational Education and Training
McPherson, C., Bayrakdar, S., Weavers, A., Gewirtz, S., Maguire, M., Winch, C. and Laczik, A. (2024) ‘Promoting more equitable post-school transitions: learning from the experiences of migrant youth in England’. In Downes, P., Anderson, J., Behtoui, A., & Van Praag, L. (Eds.). (2024). Promoting Inclusive Systems for Migrants in Education (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003263999
Kersh, N.; Laczik, A.; Evans, K. (2023) Addressing COVID-19 challenges through institutionalisation and innovation within an evolving skills ecosystem: contexts of England and small islands in the British Isles. In: Evans, K. and Ostendorf, A. and Permpoonwiwat, C. K, (eds.) Resilience of Vocational Education and Training in Phases of External Sh.ock – Experiences from the Corona Pandemic in Asian and European Skill Eco Systems. Innsbruck University Press: Innsbruck, Austria.
Laczik, A. and Patel, J (2023) The evolving tertiary space in the UK: Meeting the skills needs through HE in FE. In Helen Carasso (ed) (2023) UK higher education – policy, practice and debate during HEPI's first 20 years. HEPI report 161. pp.45-55 Available https://www.hepi.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/UK-higher-education-Policy-practice-and-debate-during-HEPIs-first-20-years.pdf
James, S. and Laczik, A. (2022). ‘A process of collaboration: apprenticeship, employer engagement and vocational formation.’ Journal of Education and Work. Vol. 35, No.1. pp. 1-15.
Laczik, A. and Farkas, E. (2022). ‘Development of Skills Formation and Vocational Education and Training in Hungary.’ In Markowitsch, J., Pavlin, S., Tūtlys, V., and Winterton, J. (eds.) Skill formation in Central and Eastern Europe. A search for patterns and directions of development. Oxford: Peter Lang Publishing
Kersh, N., & Laczik, A. (2021). ‘Reconsidering the nature of the learning space in practically-based higher education: Innovative approaches to higher education in the UK context’. Hungarian Educational Research Journal. doi:10.1556/063.2021.00095
Kersh, N. and Laczik, A. (2021). ‘Towards understanding of policy transfer and policy learning in adult education in the context of United Kingdom.’ In Barabasch, A., Bohlinger, S., Wolf, S. (eds.) Research in Comparative & International Education, Vol. 16(4) 384–404 DOI: 10.1177/17454999211061236
Kersh, N., Laczik, A., & Evans, K., Emms, K., Maslo, I. & Ertl, H. (2021). Work-based learning: Towards embedded processes and inclusive approach. In C. Nägele, N. Kersh, & B. E. Stalder (Eds.), Trends in vocational education and training research, Vol. IV. Proceedings of the European Conference on Educational Research (ECER), Vocational Education and Training Network (VETNET) (pp. 137–143). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.541620
Laczik, A. and Farkas, E, (2018). ‘Past and Present Developments in Vocational Learning in Eastern Europe: The Case of Hungary.’ In McGrath, S., Mulder, M., Papier, J. and Suart, R. (eds.) International Handbook of Vocational Education and Training for the Changing World of Work. London: Springer.
Huddleston, P. and Laczik, A. (2018). 'Employer engagement in the 14-19 qualifications development. Recent developments'. In Mann, A., Huddleston, P., Kashefpakdel, E.T. (eds.) If school was like this I’d love it’: essays on employer engagement in education. London: Routledge.
Huddleston, P., Laczik, A. (2018) '‘In the driving seat’, or reluctant passengers? Employer engagement in qualifications development: some evidence from two recent 14-19 qualification reforms'. Journal of Education and Work. DOI: 10.1080/13639080.2018.1463086
White, C., Laczik, A., (2016), 'Engaging disaffected learners at Key Stage 4 through work related learning in England.' Journal of Vocational Education and Training. Vol. 68, No.1, pp. 17-32.
Laczik, A. and Mayhew, K. (December 2015), 'VET and Labour Market Demand: Current concerns and debates'. In Governance in Vocational Education and Training (VET) in England and Germany edited by Kuhlee, D. and Laczik, A. In Phillips, D., C.L. Hahn, Paulson, J., Savvides, N. (eds.) Research in Comparative and International Education (RCIE).
Chankseliani, M., James, S., Laczik, A. (2015), 'Overcoming vocational prejudice: Can skills competitions improve the attractiveness of vocational education and training in the UK?' British Educational Research Journal. DOI: 10.1002/berj.3218.
Laczik, A. (2015), 'Education in Hungary: Recent history, changes and trends', in Corner, T. (ed.) Education Around the World. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
Huddleston, P. & Laczik, A. (2012), 'Successes and difficulties of employer engagement. The new Diploma qualification'. The Journal of Education and Work. Special Edition.
Laczik, A. (2010), ‘How Meaningful is the Policy of Free School Choice in the Modernisation of Education in Russia’ In Johnson, D. (ed) Politics, Modernisation and Educational Reform in Russia from past to present. In Oxford Studies in Comparative Education Series. Oxford: Symposium Books, pp. 137-151.
Laczik, A. & White, C. (2009), 'Employer Engagement and the 14-19 Diplomas'. Research in Post-compulsory Education. Vol. 14, No.4. pp. 399-413.
Laczik, A. (2006), 'Comparing Hungary and Russia. Methodological implications of a qualitative research project'. Research in Comparative and International Education (e-journal). Vol. 1, No. 2.
Laczik, A. (2002), 'Aspects of Home-School Relationships in a Russian School'. In Sayer, J (ed.) Opening Windows to Change. A case study of sustained international development. Oxford Studies in Comparative Education. Oxford: Symposium Books, pp.103-120.
Laczik, A. (2002), Book review on Rosalind Edwards: Children, Home and School. Regulation, autonomy or connection? Routledge/Falmer, London, 2002. Educatio Vol.4. 2002 (Budapest, Hungary).
Laczik, A. (2001), 'Home-School Relationships in one Russian School'. In Smit, F. van der Wolf, K. and Sleegers, P. (eds.) A bridge to the Future. Collaboration between Parents, Schools and Communities. Nijmegen: Stichting Katholieke Universiteit te Nijmegen, pp.109-116.
Research reports
Kersh, N., Emms, K. and Laczik, A. (2025). Building bridges between higher education and employment: learning from practically-based higher education. London: The Edge Foundation.
Laczik, A., Patel, J., Emms, K., Hordern, J., Orr, K., Dabbous, D., Polding, E., Wormald, J., James Relly, S., Newton, O., Quyoum, A. (2024). Degree Apprenticeships in England: What Can We Learn from the Experiences of Apprentices, Employers, and Education and Training Providers? London: The Edge Foundation
Munoz-Chereau, B., Burgoyne, M., Emms, K. and Laczik, A. (2024). Ofsted inspection in the general Further Education and Skills sector in England. London: Edge Foundation
Laczik, A., Emms, K., Dabbous, D., Quyoum, A. (2024). Master Craftsperson Qualifications across Four European Countries: Austria, Germany, Slovenia and Sweden. London: Edge Foundation
Laczik, A., Dabbous, D., Patel, J. and Wilson, E. (2023). Good Policy Making: what can we learn from past policies? London: The Edge Foundation.
McPherson, C., Bayrakdar, S., Gewirtz, S., Laczik, A., Maguire, M., Newton, O., O’Brien, S., Weavers, A., Winch, C. & Wolf, A. (February 2023). Schools for All? Young people’s experiences of alienation in the English secondary school system. London: Kings College London.
Emms, K., Laczik, A. and Patel, J. (2023). New Higher Education Institutions in England: A real chance to innovate? London: Edge Foundation
Dabbous, D., Laczik, A., Rogers, L., and McGrath, S. (2023). Towards an improved student experience: Excelerate schools in Scotland. London: Edge Foundation.
Emms, K., Laczik, A. and Quyoum, A. (2023) The perspectives of learners – How are schools developing employability skills? Joint Dialogue Phase 2. London: Edge Foundation.
Dabbous, D., Emms, K., Henderson, H., & Laczik, A. (2022). Responding to Covid-19. Experiences of vocational learning and teaching from colleges in the British Isles. London: The Edge Foundation.
James Relly, S., Killip, G., Robson, J., Emms, K., Klassen, M., and Laczik, A. (2022). Greening Construction: A complex challenge for jobs, skills and training. London: The Edge Foundation.
Emms, K., Laczik, A., Newton, O. and Wilson, E. (2021). Graduate Apprenticeships: Developing Scotland’s Future Workforce. London: The Edge Foundation.
James Relly, S., Robson, J., Emms, K., Laczik, A., Randhawa, A. et al. (2021). Drivers of technical excellence in the skills economy: A report for the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence. London: WSUK.
Laczik, A. & Emms, K. (2021). ‘Apprenticeships, England’. In Cedefop et al. (2021). Apprenticeship governance and in-company training: where labour market and education meet: Cedefop community of apprenticeship experts: short papers. Cedefop working paper; No 3. Ch 24, p. 164-172). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/files/6203_en.pdf
Laczik, A. & Emms, K. (2021). Perspectives on National Occupational Standards: What do users think? London: The Edge Foundation.
Emms, K., Laczik, A. & Dabbous, D. (2021). Rethinking higher education: Case studies for the 21st Century. London: The Edge Foundation
Emms, K., Laczik, A. (2020). A contemporary approach to employable graduates: Cardiff National Software Academy. London: The Edge Foundation.
Emms, K., Laczik, A., Dabbous, D. (September 2020). A journey to employment for young people with additional needs. September 2020. London: Edge Foundation
Laczik, A., Fettes, T. (August 2020). Perspectives on National Occupational Standards (NOS): What do users think? Glasgow: Skills Development Scotland.
Kersh, N., Toivianen, H., Tacchi, J., Huegler, N., Laczik, A., Kuusipalo, P., Pitkänen, P. (2019). Overcoming vulnerability and enhancing social cohesion through inclusion, communication and active citizenship in the context of adult education and VET: A symposium. In B.E. Stalder & C. Nägele (Eds.), Trends in vocational education and training research, Vol. II. Proceedings of the European Conference on Educational Research (ECER), Vocational Education and Training Network (VETNET) (pp. 170–178). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.337147
Laczik, A., Newton, O., Emms, K. (2019). WorldSkills UK – Four Nations Project. Internal report submitted to WorldSkills UK.
Kashefpakdel, E., Newton, O., Clark, J., Emms, K., Laczik., Rehill, J., Taylor, J. (2018). Joint Dialogue: How are schools developing real employability skills? London: Education and Employers.
Edge Foundation (2018). The competitive edge. Insights into how competitions are improving participation and employability at local level. London: World Skills UK.
Cedefop (2015). Vocational pedagogies and benefits for learners: practices and challenges in Europe. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. Cedefop research paper; No 47.
Cullen, MA., Laczik, A., White, C. (2015) Evaluation of the Area Behaviour Partnership. Final Report for Warwickshire County Council. Warwick: University of Warwick, Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research.
Laczik, A. (2014), Hungarian Migrants in the UK Labour Market: A Pilot Study of the Former Education of Hungarian Migrants and the Underutilisation of Their Skills in the UK, SKOPE Research Paper, No. 119. (July 2014). Oxford: ESRC Centre on Skills Knowledge and Organisational Performance. Available: http://www.skope.ox.ac.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Working_Paper_Migration_report_FINAL-July.pdf.
Mayhew, K., James, S., Chankseliani, M., Laczik, A. (2013), Benefits of Developing Vocational Excellence. Developing and Understanding of Vocational Excellence. Report for the National Apprenticeship Service. Oxford, UK: University of Oxford. Available:
http://vocationalexcellence.education.ox.ac.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DUVE-Project-3-Final-Report-Phase-1.pdf.
James, S., Mayhew, K., Laczik, A., Mordarska, M. (2013), Report on Apprenticeships, Employer Engagement and Vocational Formation in England. SKOPE/ESRC, University of Oxford. (Unpublished research report) Project was funded by the British Council.
Cedefop (2013) Return to Work. Work-based learning and the reintegration of unemployed adults into the labour market. Working Paper No. 21. Thessaloniki: Cedefop.
Fettes, T., Huddleston, P., Muir, F., White, C., Laczik, A., Stanley, J., Maguire, J. (2013): Perspectives on adult vocational teaching and learning and the development of vocational qualifications. Final Report for the Commission on Adult Vocational Teaching and Learning. Warwick: University of Warwick, Centre for Education and Industry.
Cedefop (2012) European Policies and Practices in Designing and Delivering Outcome-Oriented Curricula in Vocational Education and Training. Thessaloniki: Cedefop.
Fettes, T., Laczik, A., White, C., Smith, B., (2012) Comparison of Qualifications Systems. Report for the Welsh Government's Qualifications and Learning Divisions.
Maguire, S., Newton, B., Laczik, A., White, C. (May 2010). Raising the Participation Age: Sub-regional trial. Identifying and supporting young people in jobs without training (JWT) back into learning (Bury, Salford and Wigan). Warwick: University of Warwick, Centre for Education and Industry, The Institute for Employment Studies.
Fettes, T., Huddleston, P., Laczik, A., Muir, F. (March 2010), Delivering Foundation, Higher and Extended Projects. Principles and case studies. London: QCDA. http://www.qcda.gov.uk/resources/assets/QCDA-10-4730_Delivering_foundation_higher_and_extended_projects_-_principles_and_case_studies.pdf.
Muir, F., Laczik, A., White, C., Huddleston, P. Fetter, T., Maguire, S. (Spring 2010). 14-16 Applied Learning Programmes. Guidance on using work-related learning to motivate disaffected learners. London: QCDA.
Muir, F., Goodlad, S., Huddleston, P., Fettes, T., Laczik, A., Wahlberg, M., (October 2009) Evaluation of the Young Apprenticeships and Diplomas Pilot. Report for the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA), DCSF Research Brief. Warwick: University of Warwick, Centre for Education and Industry.
Fettes, T., Grewcock, C., Hoare, M, Laczik, A., Muir, F., Stanley, J., Stagg, P. (September 2009) Evaluation of the Foundation and Higher Projects. Warwick: University of Warwick, Centre for Education and Industry.
Fettes, T., Huddleston, P., Fiehn, J., Grewcock, C., Hoare, M., Muir, F., Laczik, A., Stagg, P. (December 2009). Evaluation of the Extended Projects. Report for the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA). Warwick: University of Warwick, Centre for Education and Industry.
Muir, F., Laczik, A. (Spring 2009) Research to support the development of the Diploma in Languages and International Communication:
1) Report on the Market View for the Diploma
2) Report on Secondary Research to establish content for the Diploma
3) Report on Consultation into the Line of Learning Statement for the Diploma.
Stagg, P., Wahlberg, M., Laczik, A., Huddleston, P. (February, 2009). The Uptake of Plant Sciences in the UK. A Research Project for The Gatsby Charitable Foundation. Warwick: University of Warwick, Centre for Education and Industry. http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/cei/news/finalprintversiongatsbyplantsciencereport.pdf.
Wahlberg, M., Laczik, A., Carey, J., Goodlad, S., Huddleston, P. Lyness, P. (2009); Tracking the careers of UK physics students. Report for Institute of Physics. Warwick: University of Warwick, Centre for Education and Industry.
Ertl, H., Stanley, J., Huddleston, P., Stasz, C., Laczik, A., Hayward, G. (January 2009). Reviewing Diploma Development. An Evaluation of the Design of the Diploma Qualifications. Funded by the DCSF
http://www.education.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/DCSF-RBW080.pdf.
Hayward, G., Laczik, A., Marson-Smith, H. (November 2007) Research into the National Qualifications Framework in England. Oxford: University of Oxford, Department of Educational Studies.
Hayward, G., Laczik, A., Marson-Smith, H. (March 2007) Evaluation of Young Enterprise Summer School Pathfinder Project. Oxford: University of Oxford, Department of Educational Studies.
Policy Reports
Dabbous, D., Patel,R., Percy,C. (2020). Our Plan for Further Education. Edited by: Newton, O., Laczik, A., and Emms, K. London: The Edge Foundation
Newton, O., Percy, C., Laczik, A. and Emms, K. (2019). Our Plan for Apprenticeships. Broader, Higher Quality, Better Prepared. London: The Edge Foundation
Newton, O., Laczik, A. and Emms, K., Cohen, K. (2018). Towards a Twenty-First Century Education System. London: The Edge Foundation
Newton, O., Laczik, A., Percy, C. (2018), Our Plan for Higher Education. Diverse, employment-focused, value for money. London: Edge Foundation. Available: http://www.edge.co.uk/research-policy/publications
