Q&A with Professor Francis Green

What is the focus of your research and what benefits do you hope your insights will bring?

I focus on two areas: job quality, and private schools.

I hope that, over time, my research on job quality will contribute to the development of good regulatory policies, especially as we move into the era of artificial intelligence and automated work processes. And I hope that my book and papers on private schools (along with colleagues) will pave the way for sound, evidenced-based reform, in search of promoting greater fairness and social mobility.

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

Through conceptual and empirical research I have designed and implemented indices of seven domains of job quality, which are now widely used as the basis for understanding trends and variations in job quality across Europe. Meantime, back home, I have initiated and carried through a programme of research about the role of private schools in British education and society. I am equally proud of these two achievements!

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Working with like-minded scholars, hoping to make a difference.

What attracted you to join IOE?

While I have taught and researched in Economics for most of my adult life, I was pleased to come to IOE in order to pursue and practice my belief in interdisciplinary research, with educational sociologists and psychologists as well as other educational and labour economists.

What's the most important thing you've learned from your students?

Enthusiasm and hope in the face of a challenging new world order!

Do you think being in London benefits the work you, and if so, how?

London remains a most exciting place to be and work. And to be among so many other brilliant people at UCL, young and old, is a privilege.

What other area of research interests you outside of your main subject area?

Astrophysics!

What might it surprise people to know about you?

I tend to become very competitive in sports. I have taken up both social and competitive tennis again after fifty years’ absence from the court.

Professor Francis Green's IRIS research profile

Courses and teaching

• Doctoral research supervision.

Last updated 5 May 2022.