RSE grant backs research into multilingual classrooms
A lecturer from Queen Margaret University (QMU) is part of an international project that has secured funding from the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) to explore how teachers can be better prepared to work in multilingual and multicultural classrooms.
The research will examine how teacher education can better reflect the linguistic and cultural diversity found in classrooms today, helping future educators develop the skills and confidence needed to support pupils from a wide range of backgrounds.
Lorna Anderson, Lecturer in Education at Queen Margaret University Edinburgh, is a collaborator on MultIPLE (Multilingual and Multicultural Initial Professional Learning for Educators), which has received an RSE Small Grant. The project is led by Dr David Roxburgh of the University of Strathclyde, alongside collaborator Dr Malika Pedley from the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne in France.
Commenting on the award, Ms Anderson said: “I am delighted to be involved in this international collaboration with colleagues from the University of Strathclyde and the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne. This project will help us explore how initial teacher education can better prepare future teachers with the skills and confidence needed to work effectively in multilingual classrooms. The opportunity to work with colleagues in France also allows us to share perspectives, compare approaches and learn from different educational contexts, helping to enrich teacher education across national boundaries.”
The grant was awarded through the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Spring 2026 Research Awards programme, which supports innovative research projects and international collaboration.
QMU warmly congratulates Ms Anderson and her fellow researchers on securing this prestigious award and looks forward to seeing the impact of the project on teacher education in Scotland and beyond.
