Jane Owens
Senior Lecturer in Education
Education and Inclusion
email: j.owens@worc.ac.uk
Jane is module lead for our mentoring and coaching modules and teaches on the MA Education and the BA Education Studies. She works at the ºüÀêÊÓƵ of Worcester for 2 days per week; on the other weekdays, she is a Skills Coach for Aston ºüÀêÊÓƵ's senior leader degree apprenticeships and runs her own coaching and research company. She has 25 years of experience in conducting research for government departments and charities: this research usually focuses upon young people, careers, and employment.
Over the past two decades, Jane has been involved in 40+ research projects. Recent examples include:
- 'Evaluation the Worcestershire Risk of NEET Indicator (RONI)' for Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire LEP
- 'Evaluation of the Restart Scheme: Wave 2' for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) through the Learning and Work Institute
- ‘Review of Local Destinations Data’ (funded by the Careers and Enterprise Company): 2021
- ‘The Careers Leader Role’ (funded by Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership): 2020
- ‘Evaluations of the Worcestershire Careers Hub’ (funded by Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership): 2019 and 2020
- ‘Understanding employers’ views on the government’s plans to reform technical education: T levels’ (for the Learning and Work Institute and funded by DfE): 2018
- ‘Review into the proposed registration of teachers and others who support learning in the independent sector with the Education Workforce Council’ (funded by the Welsh Government): 2016
- ‘The future qualification requirements for learning support staff in schools in Wales’ (funded by the Welsh Government): 2015
Qualifications
- PhD Management (ºüÀêÊÓƵ of Birmingham): due for completion in 2026
- M.Ed. Management and Policy Studies in Education (ºüÀêÊÓƵ of Birmingham)
- ILM Level 7 Certificate in Executive Coaching and Leadership Mentoring (Office for Public Management)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in HE (ºüÀêÊÓƵ of Worcester)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Career Guidance: Parts 1 & 2 (Kent College for the Careers Service)
- BA (Hons) English (ºüÀêÊÓƵ of Wales, Bangor)
Teaching & Research
Teaching Interests
- Coaching and mentoring
- Career coaching
- Employability
- Leadership and management
Research Interests
- Coaching and mentoring
- Career coaching
- Employability
- Gendered ageism
- Menopause and work
Professional Bodies
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Member of the Association for Coaching
- Member of the Career Development Institute (CDI)
Recent Publications
Book chapters
- Owens, J. (2020) ‘Professional Mentoring Skills’ in Howard, C. et al. The School Mentor’s Guide. London: Sage Publishing, pp. 92-111
- Owens, J. (2020) ‘Models and Techniques for Mentoring’ in Howard, C. et al. The School Mentor’s Guide. London: Sage Publishing, pp. 112-134
- Owens, J. (2017) ‘Aspirations and Social Mobility’ in Woolley, R. (ed.) Understanding Inclusion: Core Concepts, Policy and Practice. London: Routledge, pp. 114-130
Funded projects and consultancy
- Owens, J. (2021-23) A Review of Worcestershire County Council’s Risk of NEET Indicator (RONI). Worcestershire County Council/ The Careers and Enterprise Company.
- Consultancy for The Learning and Work Institute (2022): A Review of the Restart Programme (Wave 2). DWP.
- Consultancy for York Consulting LLP (2020) A Review of Local Destinations Data. The Careers and Enterprise Company
- Owens, J. (2020) A Secondary School Careers Leader Study. Worcestershire LEP.
- Owens, J. (2019) An Early Evaluation of the Worcestershire Careers Hub. Worcester: Worcestershire County Council/ Worcestershire LEP
- Owens, J. (2016) Review of the Worcestershire Programme to Support Young People and to Develop the Future Workforce for the County. Worcester: Worcestershire County Council/ Worcestershire LEP
- Owens, J. (2016) Review into the Proposed Registration of Teachers and Others Who Support Learning in the Independent Sector with the Education Workforce Council. Cardiff: Welsh Government
- Owens, J. (2015) Future Qualification Requirements for Learning Support Staff in Schools. Cardiff: Welsh Government Owens, J. and Tibby, M. (2014) Enhancing Employability Through Enterprise Education: Examples of Good Practice in Higher Education. York: Higher Education Academy (HEA)
External Roles
- Skills Coach, Aston ºüÀêÊÓƵ
- Career Coach, Owens Consulting (UK) Ltd and Working Transitions
- Associate Coach, West Midlands Employers
- MBA Practice Tutor, ºüÀêÊÓƵ of Birmingham
- Associate, Learning and Work Institute