Education qualifications include Certificate in Education (Further Education), Bachelor of Education (Hons.), Master of Arts in Learning and Teaching, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). His main research expertise lies in the policy and practice of post-school education and training; with a particular focus on rural communities. He has completed a range of research projects funded by the UK funding councils (ESRC, NERC), the British Academy, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the National Research and Development Centre for adult literacy and numeracy (NRDC), Local Authorities and the Learning and Skills Council. His research has included both national and international comparative studies including practitioner based enquiry with a range of educational stakeholders. He currently teaches on masters and doctoral programmes within the Faculty of Education. Chris has held academic posts at De Montfort University and since 1999 the University of Nottingham. Chris joined the Faculty of Education at Liverpool Hope University from Nottingham in January 2010.