At Metanoia Institute, Research Enabled Applied Learning (REAL) strategy is at the heart of how we connect research, education and professional practice.
Our REAL strategy recognises that research is not separate from learning and practice: it is a means of enriching both. We bring research evidence, critical enquiry and contemporary developments in counselling, psychotherapy and counselling psychology into our teaching programmes, while creating opportunities for students and practitioners to contribute to the development of knowledge themselves.
REAL supports a culture in which research informs learning, learning informs practice and engages communities, and we create impact and make a difference in our field and the society.
Our approach is grounded in educational principles that value research evidence, critical thinking, participation and dialogue. It also reflects our commitment to fostering a sense of belonging, inclusion and connection across our communities of students, practitioners, researchers and educators.
REAL: Our Aims
Through REAL, we aim to:
- Develop excellence in teaching and learning across the Institute by drawing on contemporary research and pedagogical evidence.
- Keep our curricula contemporary and evidence-informed, ensuring that students engage with current developments in counselling, psychotherapy and counselling psychology.
- Enrich students’ learning experiences by engaging them in research enquiry, critical debate and the development of knowledge.
- Connect research with professional practice, recognising the knowledge and expertise generated by practitioners and the communities in which they work.
- Contribute to the development of the professions through research that tests, develops and challenges theories, explores innovative approaches to practice, and strengthens the evidence base for counselling, psychotherapy and counselling psychology.
Research that connects people and knowledge:
Research at Metanoia brings together communities of scholars, practitioners and students. We particularly value practitioner research and community engagement, recognising that important knowledge is generated not only within academic research but also through professional practice and engagement with the people and communities whom our professions serve.
In this sense, REAL is both a strategy and a way of thinking about research: research is something we learn through, teach through, practise through and contribute to.