Philip Bell

All Disciplines Award, Harvard University - International Education

Phil is from Belfast, in Northern Ireland. He graduated from Oxford with a first-class History degree in 2014. He then became a teacher through the Teach First program and taught at Alec Reed Academy in Northolt, West London, and then at School 21 in Stratford. During this time he volunteered as a Limited Resource Teacher Training Fellow in Penang, Malaysia, and on Chios island, Greece.

These experiences have driven an interest in developing lifelong learning systems that form a coherent journey from early years to adult education. Phil is particularly interested in how work readiness and citizenship can complement one another, especially with regard to climate education and re-skilling for a just transition. At Harvard Phil will pursue an Ed.M. in International Education Policy to explore policy pathways that might point towards a holistic lifelong learning system in the UK, as well as the technology systems which can support this. While in America, Phil hopes to take inspiration from the US community college system, as well as innovative projects such as High Tech High and Harlem Children's Zone. He also hopes to play sport, including cycling and outdoor swimming.