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William Quirke

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William Quirke

Dr

 https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6734-7379

  • United Kingdom

Personal profile

Personal Statement

William joined the University of Strathclyde’s Institute of Education as a Teaching Fellow in 2021. Previously, he worked in Falkirk Council as a teacher of Geography and Rural Skills and held the position of Faculty Head for Social Subjects and RMPS. During this time he developed a keen interest in Learning for Sustainability and understanding barriers to its implementation. Tracking, monitoring and moderation in the Broad General Education phase was also an area of interest. 

Since joining the Institute of Education, William's work and knowledge exchange activity has specialised in the fields of Sustainability Education, Geography Education and Practitioner Enquiry. He is also active in a number of national and international working groups and professional networks relating to these areas. 

William is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers.  

Teaching Interests

Module Leadership:

  • Course Tutor for PGDE Geography
  • Module Leader for the MEd module X3969 - Learning for Sustainability
  • Co-Module leader for the PGDE module X9674 - Professional Learning through Enquiry
  • Module Leader for the BA module X2204 - Learning for Sustainability: Theory and Practice 
  • Member of the PGDE Course Management Team

 

Tutor/Lecturer:

  • X3969 – Learning for Sustainability (MEd)
  • X9574 – Professional Learning through Enquiry (PGDE)
  • X9573 – Education Studies, Professional Values (PGDE)
  • X9577 – Curriculum and Pedagogy: Geography (PGDE)
  • X7460 – Professional Skills: Professional Practice (PGDE)
  • X7331 – Teaching Social Studies Creatively (BA)
  • X9284 – Learning for Sustainability: Theory and Practice (Interdisciplinary Module)
  • X7334 - Social Research Methods (BA)
  • X9651 - Practitioner Enquiry for Professional Learning
  • Masters dissertation supervision (MEd/MSc)
  • Undergraduate dissertation supervision

Expertise And Capabilities

William offers CPD/CLPL in Geography/People, Place and Environment to primary and lower secondary practitioners. He also offers CPD/CLPL in Learning for Sustainability and Education for Sustainable Development for both primary and secondary settings.

Information on the sessions William delivers can be found in the Institute of Education CLPL catalogue: https://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/education/career-longprofessionallearning/ 

William is one of two sustainability education leads in the Strathclyde Institute of Education and acts as a department liaison for the University's Social and Environmental Sustainability Strategy. 

As an active member of the StrathCAN network, William is an experienced Climate Fresk facilitator and specialises in delivering interdisciplinary climate education experiences. 

Research Interests

In 2024 William was awarded the Global Challenges Teaching Award (Climate Change) by the US-UK Fulbright Commission. In partnership with The Division of Science of Brandeis University, Massachusetts, Will and colleagues are co-creating a Virtual Exchange/Collaborative Online International Learning initiative. https://fulbright.org.uk/our-community/meet-our-fulbrighters/  In 2026, the project team were nominated for a HaSS Learning and Teaching Award. 

William represented the Strathclyde Institute of Education in the Erasmus+ Island Schools (iSHRINK) project. This project saw him working collaboratively with colleagues in institutions in The Netherlands, Greece, Iceland and Spain to bring schools from across Europe’s islands together around sustainability challenges. Further information can be found on the projects website https://www.islandschools.eu/  

William has been interviewed about his work and research on the Institute of Education podcast. You can listen through the following link https://tinyurl.com/585t8zkj  

William completed his Doctorate in Education (EdD) in 2026. His doctoral research explored how adolescents use urban open spaces, the distribution of open spaces in urban areas, and its influence on the wellbeing of adolescents.

Keywords

  • Sustainability
  • Geography
  • Education

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 1 - No Poverty
    SDG 1 No Poverty
  2. SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
    SDG 2 Zero Hunger
  3. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  4. SDG 4 - Quality Education
    SDG 4 Quality Education
  5. SDG 5 - Gender Equality
    SDG 5 Gender Equality
  6. SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
    SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
  7. SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
    SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
  8. SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
    SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
  9. SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
    SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  10. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
  11. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  12. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
    SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
  13. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action
  14. SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    SDG 14 Life Below Water
  15. SDG 15 - Life on Land
    SDG 15 Life on Land
  16. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  17. SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
    SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

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