Professor Marina Shapira

Professor

Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology Colin Bell Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Professor Marina Shapira

Contact details

About me

Marina Shapira is Professor of Sociology at the University of Stirling, based in the University’s Faculty of Health Sciences, Sport and Society.

She joined the University of Stirling in March 2013. At Stirling, Marina has coordinated and taught core and elective undergraduate and postgraduate modules on migration and research methods. Between 2021 and 2026, she coordinated the Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology Honours Dissertation module and supervised undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students.

Dr Shapira is a member of the Social Surveys and Social Statistics research group and the Stirling Network for Curriculum Studies. Her research focuses on curriculum studies, educational inequalities and transitions, socio-economic inequalities, migration, and ethnic and national identities, including those of immigrants and ethnic minorities.

She has received research funding from the ESRC, British Academy, British Council and Nuffield Foundation. She was Principal Investigator on the large Nuffield Foundation-funded project Choice, Attainment and Positive Destinations (2019–2023), which examined the impacts of curriculum policies on young people’s outcomes in Scotland. She is currently a Co-Investigator on the AHRC-funded project Analysing Take-up of Languages in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland (2026–2028; PI Fiona Barclay; £1,580,912). Previously, she was a Co-Investigator on two international projects: one funded by the British Academy exploring national identities and intentions to stay among young migrants in Armenia (2020–2023), and another examining trends in early English language learning in basic education (British Council, 2022–2025).

Supervision: Dr Marina Shapira welcomes enquiries from students and prospective candidates interested in undergraduate, Master’s or doctoral research on topics related to migration, ethnic and socio-economic inequalities, educational inequalities, curriculum studies, socio-economic stratification and mobility, and quantitative research methods.

Before coming to Stirling, she studied Applied Mathematics (MSc) at Yerevan State University and Sociology at the University of Haifa (MA) and the University of Oxford (DPhil). She worked as a Research Fellow and Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Educational Sociology, University of Edinburgh, the ESRC Centre for Population Change, and the Employment Research Institute.

Educational inequalities, in particular inequalities in educational attainment and transitions from secondary education to work and further/higher education; role of school curriculum and curriculum choices on the attainment and transitions. Socio-economic inequalities, social stratification and mobility, in particular patterns of socio-economic inequality and processes of social mobility of immigrants and ethnic minorities. Immigrant social impacts Child welfare inequalities Quantitative research methods

Event / Presentation

Witness statement given at Education and Young People Committee, The Scottish Parliament
University of Stirling

Witness statement given at Young People and Education Committee, The Scottish Parliament
University of Stirling
https://www.scotsman.com/…t-scores-4431734

Witness statement given at Young People and Education Committee, The Scottish Parliament
University of Stirling

External Examiners and Validations

UG Sociology Programme Review, London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University

Other Academic Activities

Member of the Editorial Board for Curriculum Journal
University of Stirling

Member of the Editorial Board Frontiers Sociology
University of Stirling

What do you need to know as the nation awaits its PISA test scores
University of Stirling
https://www.scotsman.com/…t-scores-4431734
Interview for Scotsmen

What does Pisa tell us about Scottish education?
University of Stirling
https://www.tes.com/…ottish-education
Publication in the Times Educational Supplement

Research projects (8)

Analysing take-up of languages in Scotland, Wales and Ireland
PI: Professor Fiona Barclay
Funded by: Arts and Humanities Research Council
–

Should I stay or should I go: sense of belonging and intentions to stay among young, newcomers to Armenia
PI: Dr Sarah Wilson
Funded by: The British Academy
–

Choice, attainment and positive destinations: exploring the impact of curriculum policy change on young people
PI: Professor Marina Shapira
Funded by: The Nuffield Foundation
–

Rapid Review of National Qualifications 2020
PI: Professor Mark Priestley
Funded by: Scottish Government
–

Permanently progressing: Outcomes for children in Scotland accommodated before age 5
PI:
Funded by: British Association for Adoption & Fostering and Confidential Donor
–

Survey of Teacher Workforce
PI: Professor Mark Priestley
Funded by: National Association of School Masters and Union of Women Teachers
–

Master's programmes in ELT: A survey of UK provision and student experiences
PI:
Funded by: The British Council
–

Teaching, Learning and Play in the Outdoors: a national survey of provisions in schools and pre-schools
PI: Professor Gregory Mannion
Funded by: NatureScot (Formerly Scottish Natural Heritage)
–

Outputs (40)

Article

Indicators of Integration: Assessing the Impact of Perceptions about Rights and Security, Public Outcomes, and Social Connections on Intentions to Stay of Newcomers in Armenia

Hunter S, Shapira M, Fotopoulou M, Wilson S & Zaslavskaya M (2024) Indicators of Integration: Assessing the Impact of Perceptions about Rights and Security, Public Outcomes, and Social Connections on Intentions to Stay of Newcomers in Armenia. Diaspora. https://doi.org/10.3138/diaspora.24.2.2024.09.25

Other

Choices, Attainment and Positive destinations: Exploring the impact of curriculum policy change on young people

Shapira M & Priestley M (2023) Choices, Attainment and Positive destinations: Exploring the impact of curriculum policy change on young people [Evidence For The Sottish Parliament Education And Young People Committee, 8 November 2023]. Education, Children and Young People Committee Official Report. Edinburgh: Scottish Parliament. https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=15538

Consultancy Report

Rapid Review of National Qualifications Experience 2020

Priestley M, Shapira M, Priestley A, Ritchie M & Barnett C (2020) Rapid Review of National Qualifications Experience 2020. Scottish Government. Edinburgh. https://www.gov.scot/publications/rapid-review-national-qualifications-experience-2020/

Research Report

Pathways to permanence for children who become looked after in Scotland

Biehal N, Cusworth L, Hooper J, Whincup H & Shapira M (2019) Pathways to permanence for children who become looked after in Scotland. Commissioned by an anonymous donor. Permanently Progressing? Building secure futures for children in Scotland. Stirling. https://afascotland.com/learning-zone/permanently-progressing

Conference Abstract

Permanently Progressing? Building Secure Futures for Children in Scotland: Pathways and outcomes for looked after children

Cusworth L, Hooper J, Biehal N, Shapira M & Whincup H (2018) Permanently Progressing? Building Secure Futures for Children in Scotland: Pathways and outcomes for looked after children. International Conference for Administrative Data Research, Queen's University Belfast. International Journal of Population Data Science, 3 (2), Art. No.: 031. https://doi.org/10.23889/ijpds.v3i2.500

Working Paper

Identifying and understanding inequalities in child welfare intervention rates: quantitative evidence from a comparison of the four UK countries

Bywaters P, Scourfield J, Jones C, Sparks T, Elliott M, McCartan CJ, Hooper J, Shapira M, Bunting L & Daniel B (2017) Identifying and understanding inequalities in child welfare intervention rates: quantitative evidence from a comparison of the four UK countries. http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/inequalities-child-welfare-intervention-rates

Technical Report

Identifying and Understanding Inequalities in Child Welfare Intervention Rates: Quantitative Methodology Technical Paper

Bywaters P, Brady G, Jones C, Sparks T, McCartan CJ, Bunting L, Hooper J, Shapira M, Daniel B, Elliott M & Scourfield J (2017) Identifying and Understanding Inequalities in Child Welfare Intervention Rates: Quantitative Methodology Technical Paper. The Nuffield Foundation. University of Stirling. http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/inequalities-child-welfare-intervention-rates

Research Report

Identifying and Understanding Inequalities in Child Welfare Intervention Rates: Comparative studies in four UK countries. Single country quantitative study report: Scotland. Project Report on findings from the Child Welfare Intervention project

Hooper J, Shapira M & Daniel B (2017) Identifying and Understanding Inequalities in Child Welfare Intervention Rates: Comparative studies in four UK countries. Single country quantitative study report: Scotland. Project Report on findings from the Child Welfare Intervention project. The Nuffield Foundation.

Research Report

Recognition of Prior Learning in Scotland

Shapira M (2013) Recognition of Prior Learning in Scotland. European Commission. University Recognition of Prior Learning Centres - Bridging Higher Education with Vocational Education and Training. Zagreb: Institute for the Development of Education. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/53110675.pdf

Book Chapter

Recognition of Prior Learning in Scotland

Shapira M & Brogan J (2013) Recognition of Prior Learning in Scotland. In: Pravwelske-Skrzypek G & Jalocha B (eds.) Recognition of prior learning in higher education: challenges of designing the system. Zagreb, Croatia: Institute for the Development of Education, pp. 49-72. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/53110675.pdf

Research Report

Economic Inactivity Research Project (those with family commitments and the long-term sick and disabled) - Literature Review

McQuaid R, Graham H, Shapira M & Raeside R (2013) Economic Inactivity Research Project (those with family commitments and the long-term sick and disabled) - Literature Review. Department for Employment and Learning Northern Ireland. Employment Research Institute, Edinburgh Napier University. http://www.delni.gov.uk/economic-inactivity-literature-review.pdf

Research Report

An expert paper on the type, extent and delivery of childcare provision necessary to maximise the economic participation of women within Northern Ireland, report for Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

McQuaid R, Graham H & Shapira M (2013) An expert paper on the type, extent and delivery of childcare provision necessary to maximise the economic participation of women within Northern Ireland, report for Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. http://www.equalityni.org/archive/pdf/ChildCareMainReport(Web).pdf

Book Chapter

Understanding the Impact of Immigration on the Labour Market Outcomes of British Workers

Shapira M (2010) Understanding the Impact of Immigration on the Labour Market Outcomes of British Workers. In: Stillwell J & van Ham M (eds.) Ethnicity and Integration: Understanding Population Trends and Processes: volume 3. Understanding Population Trends and Processes, 3. Amsterdam: Springer, pp. 153-178. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-90-481-9103-1_8

Book Chapter

Trends in the Impact of Post-Compulsory Educational Qualifications and Experience on the Occupational Attainments of Young People in England and Scotland, 1986-2001

Shapira M (2009) Trends in the Impact of Post-Compulsory Educational Qualifications and Experience on the Occupational Attainments of Young People in England and Scotland, 1986-2001. In: Hadjar A & Becker R (eds.) Expected and Unexpected Consequences of the Educational Expansion in Europe and USA: Theoretical approaches and empirical findings in comparative perspective. Prisma, 12. Bern: Haupt Verlag, pp. 179-200. http://www.haupt.ch/shop/oxid.php/sid/e5de8741fdceb4f244d68f1d9c79b27f/cl/details/anid/9783258075198/listtype/search/searchparam/Expected%20and%20Unexpected%20Consequences%20of%20the%20Educational%20Expansion%20in%20Europe%20and%20USA

Teaching

Teaching

SSPC Dissertation
University of Stirling