ESC Working Group on Teaching and Learning in Criminology

The European Working Group on Teaching and Learning in Criminology (WG-TLC) is a new cluster working under the European Society of Criminology (ESC) to provide a dedicated forum for educators, researchers, and practitioners committed to pedagogic innovation in Criminology. Reflecting the ESC’s mission to bring together individuals engaged in research, teaching, and professional practice, the WG-TLC aims to advance Criminology by focusing attention on curriculum design, instructional methods, digital transformation, professional development, and educational research in the discipline.

To achieve this, the working group will:

1. Facilitate meaningful exchanges among Criminology educators and practitioners around teaching practice at undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional levels.
2. Promote innovative, evidence-based pedagogy that responds to contemporary challenges, including digital literacy, artificial intelligence, big data, and technological change shaping criminology education.
3. Strengthen collaborative networks across European institutions to share knowledge, resources, strategies, and examples of effective teaching and assessment that enhance learning and student engagement.
4. Advance comparative and interdisciplinary research on criminological education, exploring variations across countries, languages, and institutional contexts, and identifying effective approaches.
5. Support early-career academics and teaching-focused staff by providing platforms for feedback, community building, and professional development related to pedagogic scholarship.

The Working Group is co-chaired by Lizzie Mansell (Liverpool Hope University) and Mark Littler (University of Greenwich). Together, they coordinate activities, support membership engagement, and act as the key liaison point with the ESC. Membership of the Working Group is free for ESC members, and the group welcomes colleagues from across Europe and beyond.

Planned Activities

Over the next year, the Working Group will develop a range of initiatives to foster community, scholarly engagement, and pedagogic innovation, including:

• Regular symposia, seminars, and thematic workshops addressing contemporary teaching challenges and opportunities
• Online events and webinars to connect educators across European regions and time zones
• Collaborative projects such as edited volumes, special journal issues, and shared teaching resources
• Mentoring and networking opportunities, particularly for doctoral researchers, early-career academics, and teaching-focused staff
• A regular newsletter or digital hub to share teaching resources, announcements, calls for papers, and updates on ESC events

As part of this activity, the working group is pleased to announce its first major event: the 2025 Annual Symposium on Teaching and Learning in Criminology, hosted by Liverpool Hope University on Friday 12 December 2025. The theme was Criminology 2.0: Teaching Criminology in the Age of AI and Big Data

The symposium brought together papers, posters, and panels exploring the role of technology in Criminology education and the pedagogic challenges and opportunities of the 2020s. The event was free to attend and open to all Criminology educators, practitioners, and early-career scholars. Abstracts were due by 14 November 2025 (12:00 UTC), and pre-registration was required.

Invitation to Join

The Working Group welcomes anyone engaged in Criminology education – lecturers, researchers, digital learning specialists, doctoral students, and practitioner-educators – to join and help build an active, supportive, and forward-looking community. By sharing knowledge, strengthening networks, and embracing innovation, we aim to enhance how Criminology is taught and learned across Europe.