Research interests

Opportunities for new approaches to distance and open education, especially computer-based distributed learning systems, as a contribution to improved development on and in rural communities.

1. The impacts of online education and ICT services, especially for rural areas.
2. Rural and Community Development Studies
3. Human Ecology - The interface between nature conservation and the development of human communities.

Specific research Interests

• Opportunities for new approaches to distance and open education, especially computer-based distributed learning systems, as a contribution to improved development on and in rural communities.
• The animation of grassroots community development, especially mechanisms for participation in integrated rural development initiatives and the practice of participatory action research by rural communities
• Practical systems for securing sustainable development in rural communities.
• Cultural and social issues as a mechanism for development (especially among minority cultures).
• Rural landuse, land ownership, and land management, including small-scale agricultural activities and the crofting system in particular.
• Support and training for leadership development in rural areas.

Research projects

• e-tips (e-textbook institutional publishing service) (lead partner, with Edinburgh Napier University); funded by JISC (Joint Information Services Committee, for UK Higher Education) (2014-2017)
• Sustaining livelihoods in remote and fragile communities: The role and impact of ferry transport. Funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Calmac (2014-2015)
• Higher Education Academic funded project on Education for Sustainable Development - co-participant (2011)
• NetUniversity: The development of open educational resources and online education with academic partners in Iceland, Sweden, and Labrador, Canada (2008-2010)
• Edushare: Distributed Learning Capacity-Building for Bhutan, Nepal, Cambodia, and the Maldives (EU Asia-Link II Programme, 2007-2010)
• THETA: Tourism, Heritage, and Environment: Technology Applications (Highlands and Islands Enterprise2007)
• EU Grundtvik GOAL project to research systems to support the Generation of Online Adult Learning
• The Development and Management of Sustainable Systems for Distributed Higher Education in Nepal and Bhutan (EU-Asia Link)
• The Connecticon:Learning for the connected generation.
• "How to Use Broadband" for community and business development.
• Critical factors in the success of one-stop-shops as a model of service delivery within rural locations. (Scottish Executive)
• eLearning models desk study (JISC)
• The Use of Computer Networks for Community and Business Development
• Indicators for sustainable rural development at the community level
• "Operational features for managing sustainable development in Amazonia", (The EU funded Amazonia21 Project.)
• Review of international best practice in service delivery to remote and rural areas (contract for the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department)