Jane Owens

Senior Lecturer in Education

Education and Inclusion

Contact Details

Since starting work as a Careers Adviser in the 1980s, Jane has developed a fascination for exploring the influences upon people's learning and career decisions, and upon their employability. She has undertaken extensive work in this and related areas, initially whilst working for an economic consultancy and subsequently through her own company which she set up in 2002.

Over the past two decades, Jane has been involved in 40+ research projects. Recent examples include:

'Evaluation the Worcestershire Risk of NEET Indicator (RONI)' for Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire LEP
'Evaluation of the Restart Scheme: Wave 2' for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) through the Learning and Work Institute
‘Review of Local Destinations Data’ (funded by the Careers and Enterprise Company): 2021
‘The Careers Leader Role’ (funded by Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership): 2020
‘Evaluations of the Worcestershire Careers Hub’ (funded by Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership): 2019 and 2020
‘Understanding employers’ views on the government’s plans to reform technical education: T levels’ (for the Learning and Work Institute and funded by DfE): 2018
‘Review into the proposed registration of teachers and others who support learning in the independent sector with the Education Workforce Council’ (funded by the Welsh Government): 2016
‘The future qualification requirements for learning support staff in schools in Wales’ (funded by the Welsh Government): 2015

Qualifications

PhD Management (University of Birmingham): due for completion in 2026
M.Ed. Management and Policy Studies in Education (University of Birmingham)
ILM Level 7 Certificate in Executive Coaching and Leadership Mentoring (Office for Public Management)
Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in HE (University of Worcester)
Postgraduate Diploma in Career Guidance: Parts 1 & 2 (Kent College for the Careers Service)
BA (Hons) English (University of Wales, Bangor)

Teaching & Research

Teaching Interests

Coaching and mentoring
Career coaching
Employability
Leadership and management

Research Interests

Coaching and mentoring
Career coaching
Employability
Gendered ageism
Menopause and work

Membership of Professional Bodies

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Member of the Association for Coaching
Member of the Career Development Institute (CDI)

Recent Publications

Book chapters

Owens, J. (2020) ‘Professional Mentoring Skills’ in Howard, C. et al. The School Mentor’s Guide. London: Sage Publishing, pp. 92-111

Owens, J. (2020) ‘Models and Techniques for Mentoring’ in Howard, C. et al. The School Mentor’s Guide. London: Sage Publishing, pp. 112-134

Owens, J. (2017) ‘Aspirations and Social Mobility’ in Woolley, R. (ed.) Understanding Inclusion: Core Concepts, Policy and Practice. London: Routledge, pp. 114-130

Funded projects and consultancy

Owens, J. (2019) An Early Evaluation of the Worcestershire Careers Hub. Worcester: Worcestershire County Council/ Worcestershire LEP
Owens, J. (2016) Review of the Worcestershire Programme to Support Young People and to Develop the Future Workforce for the County. Worcester: Worcestershire County Council/ Worcestershire LEP
Owens, J. (2016) Review into the Proposed Registration of Teachers and Others Who Support Learning in the Independent Sector with the Education Workforce Council. Cardiff: Welsh Government
Owens, J. (2015) Future Qualification Requirements for Learning Support Staff in Schools. Cardiff: Welsh Government Owens, J. and Tibby, M. (2014) Enhancing Employability Through Enterprise Education: Examples of Good Practice in Higher Education. York: Higher Education Academy (HEA)

External Roles

Skills Coach, Aston University
Career Coach, Owens Consulting (UK) Ltd and Working Transitions
Associate Coach, West Midlands Employers
MBA Practice Tutor, University of Birmingham
Associate, Learning and Work Institute