i-nnovators
Ben Alcott
Who is he?
Ben is a doctoral student and research assistant at the University of Michigan. He
focuses on the use of econometric models in analysing the impact of governmental and organizational
policies on student behaviour.
Recent projects that Ben has worked on include:
- How distance and pricing influence demand for undergraduate education
- Factors that encourage/dissuade students from progressing to doctoral study in the science,
technology, engineering and mathematics fields
- The impact of undergraduate research experiences on career progression for engineering
students
- A program evaluation aiming to reduce attrition rates amongst community college students
that transfer to full degree programs
Prior to moving to the USA, Ben worked for a range of secondary schools and academies in London.
He studied social policy research methods (MSc, Merit) at the London School of Economics, as well
as history (BA, first class honours) at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, and Girton
College, Cambridge University.
What can he offer?
Ben can contribute in several ways;
- Conducting program evaluations through quasi-experimental research methods.
- Understanding students' perspectives and likely behaviours in response to the actions of
higher education institutions.
- Providing knowledge of the contemporary research literature on developments in higher
education.
- Offering insights on the strategies of a flagship public university in the United States, as well
as the successes and failures of its efforts to implement these strategies.