Professor Chapman is Professor in History Education at the UCL Institute of Education (IOE) and is currently the Head of the Department of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment.
The Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) is composed of 12 renowned individuals in the field of history teaching and learning who ensure the academic, scholarly, and methodological quality of the Observatory’s work to uphold human rights and democratic culture globally.
The Observatory (an Enlarged Partial Agreement of the Council of Europe) aims to provide a clear picture of the state of history teaching in its member states, drawing from reliable data on how history is taught.
Professor Chapman has been a member of the SAC since 2024 and was elected Vice-Chair in July. During his time on the SAC, he has contributed, alongside other members, to overseeing the Observatory’s work on the teaching of economic crises and on the state of history teaching in Europe.
He has been involved with the Observatory since 2023, contributing to policy-level discussions about the importance of history education in universities and academic freedom, sharing his work on Roma and Traveller history with community representatives, and creating teaching resources on multiperspectivity in history education.
Professor Chapman says, “I was honoured to be elected to the SAC in 2024 and, in particular, to be elected Vice-Chair in 2025. I have a long-standing interest in comparative work in history education. It is very exciting, therefore, to be able to contribute to a major international initiative that aims to forward educational improvement through systematic international curricular comparisons.
“I am also fully committed to the Council of Europe’s wider aims to support democratic culture and practice through education, and it is a very great honour to be able to make some contribution to this through my role as Vice-Chair of the SAC in these challenging times.”
Aurora Ailincai, the Executive Director of the Observatory, says “We’re really proud to have Arthur as Vice-Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council. His experience in history education and his sharp, thoughtful approach bring real value to our work. With so many debates today around how history is taught, his expertise and contribution help us keep our focus on quality, integrity, and impact.”
Links
- Professor Arthur Chapman’s research profile
- Scientific Advisory Committee
- Observatory on History Teaching in Europe
- Department of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
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