Dr Paul Cowell

Originally from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, I have been at Stirling since 2007. I hold a BA (Hons) in Economics from the University of Stirling, a MSc Economics from the University of Edinburgh, and I obtained my PhD from the University of Stirling in 2018. My postgraduate studies were supported by an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) 1+3 studentship, awarded through open competition.

Currently, I am the programme co-director of the BA (Hons) Economics degree and the Undergraduate Economics Advisor of Studies. I am also the Deputy Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching for SMS, and the L&T committee representative for the Economics division. I am also an Associate of the Economics Network.

I have held my current post of lecturer since August 2017, in addition to being a module coordinator (2015-17), and a teaching assistant (2013-17) until my full time appointment. My teaching responsibilities include advanced and intermediate macroeconomics at the undergraduate level, and delivering the core micro and macro modules on the MSc Economics for Business & Policy. I am currently leading the adoption of the CORE project of learning and teaching in Economics across the division, from undergraduate to postgraduate.

I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), and I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (PGCert LTHE).

In both Spring 2019 and Spring 2020 I was awarded a Teaching Impact Award and a RATE Excellence in Teaching award. I passionately believe in, practice, and research the role of pedagogy in the learning of Higher Education, particularly in the field of Economics.

My primary research interest is in the economics of higher education. Specifically, I am interested in the accessibility of higher education, policy evaluation, and determinants of subject choice.

I am particularly interested in using policy evaluation methods - such as Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD), Difference-in-Differences (DD) and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) - to analyse both education and labour market policies.

I have a seconday interest in the economics of languages, and the job market effects of bilingual schooling.

2019/20

Undergraduate: ECNU111 (Autumn) ECNU312 (Spring)

Postgraduate: ECNP001 (Spring) BUSP003 (Autumn) BUAP006 (Autumn)