# Centre for Research on Education and Social Justice (CRESJ)

**Source**: https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/cresj/
**Parent**: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/

- [Education home](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/)
- [About the Department](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/about/)
- [Undergraduate study](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/undergraduate/)
- [Postgraduate study](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/postgraduate/)
- [Teacher training/PGCE](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/pgce/)
- [Research](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/)
  - [Centre for Advanced Studies in Language and Education](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/casle/)
  - Centre for Research on Education and Social Justice
    - [Welcome to CRESJ](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/cresj/welcometocresj/)
    - [Study with us](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/cresj/study/)
    - [Research people](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/cresj/people/)
    - [Research themes](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/cresj/researchthemes/)
  - [Psychology in Education Research Centre](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/perc/)
  - [University of York Science Education Group](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/uyseg/)
  - [Publications](https://pure.york.ac.uk/portal/en/organisations/education(494c9fa4-7571-4241-a85e-d94e2e9d9921)/publications.html)
  - [Visiting Researchers](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/visiting-researcher/)
  - [Independent Research Fellowships](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/fellowships/)
  - [Education Researchers for Open Science (EROS)](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/eros/)
  - [University research themes](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/university-research-themes/)
  - [PhD Studies in progress](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/progress/)
  - [Information on GDPR](https://www.york.ac.uk/records-management/dp/your-info/generalprivacynotice/)
  - [Financial information for participation in research](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/finance-information-research-participation/)
  - [Language-Driven Pedagogy](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/language-driven-pedagogy/)
  - [Technology in Education, Childhood, and Youth](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/technologyineducationchildhoodandyouth/)
- [Equality and Diversity](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/ed/)
- [Our staff](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/our-staff/)
- [Meet our students](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/meet-our-students/)
- [International students](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/international/)
- [Student wellbeing](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/student-wellbeing/)
- [For alumni](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/alumni/)
- [News and events](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/news-events/)
- [Intranet](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/intranet/)
- [Contact us](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/contact/)

# Centre for Research on Education and Social Justice (CRESJ)

**Leader:** [Professor Liz Thomas](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/our-staff/academic/liz-thomas/)\
**Deputy:** [Dr Anna Bull](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/our-staff/academic/anna-bull/)

The Centre for Research on Education and Social Justice (CRESJ) undertakes multi-method research that explores social justice in education.

## [Welcome](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/cresj/welcometocresj/)

We pursue research regarding social justice and education in the UK and internationally. We investigate perceptions of fairness; differential rates of access and achievement that apply across individuals and social groups; and, explore learning and teaching.

[Read more about CRESJ](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/cresj/welcometocresj/)

## Events

> ## [Study with us](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/cresj/study/)
>
> We offer research degrees ([PhD](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/postgraduate/phd/), MA by research) and we also offer our MA in Global and International Citizenship Education and our [MA in Social Justice and Education](http://www.york.ac.uk/education/postgraduate/taught-masters/social-justice/).

## [Research projects](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/postgraduate/phd/research-projects/)

## [Research themes](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/cresj/researchthemes/)

## [People](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/cresj/people/)

## Focus on

[Commuter students: A student-centred, whole provider approach to improve student experiences and outcomes in technological higher education in Ireland](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/cresj/news/2025/commuter-students/)

Monday 17 November 2025

The final report of the research and knowledge exchange project, was launched in an online webinar.

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[Teaching Tips: How to be more ‘commuter compassionate’](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/cresj/news/2025/teaching-tips-commuter-compassionate/)

Wednesday 15 October 2025

Liz Thomas shares the importance of showing compassion to commuting students in your teaching and student support practices.

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[Commuter students in higher education institutions in Ireland. A student-centred, whole provider approach to improve student experiences and outcomes.](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/cresj/news/2025/commuting-students-study/)

Thursday 11 September 2025

During 2024/25 Liz Thomas undertook research with higher education institutions in Ireland to explore commuter students’ experiences and to consider changes that would improve their experiences and outcomes.

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[More news](https://www.york.ac.uk/education/research/cresj/news/)