Dr. Paul Cowell

I am an economist whose research sits at the intersection of the economics of education, behavioural science, and educational innovation. My work examines how students make decisions about learning, how institutional structures shape educational outcomes, and how assessment and curriculum design can be redesigned to improve engagement, equity, and academic performance.

Methodologically, I apply causal inference and quasi-experimental approaches to evaluate educational interventions and institutional reforms. A central strand of my research applies behavioural insights, particularly goal setting and implementation intentions, to improve educational attainment. More recently, I have focused on the integration of artificial intelligence into higher education, exploring how AI tools reshape learning behaviour, assessment design, feedback systems, and academic integrity. My work considers both the opportunities and incentive challenges created by AI, and how economic reasoning can inform institutional responses.

Alongside my research, I developed and implemented a standardised flipped classroom model at Forward College (‘The Forward Way’), an institutional framework for small-group, active learning across disciplines. This work bridges pedagogical theory, behavioural economics, and institutional design, and serves as a platform for ongoing empirical evaluation of teaching innovation.

My research has been presented internationally at major economics and higher education conferences and has contributed to sector-wide discussions on subject benchmarking, assessment reform, and the future of economics education.

Conference attendance and proceedings

• Cowell, P. (2020). Goal Setting and Implementation Intentions to Improve Educational Outcomes. Quality Assurance Agency 5th International Enhancement Conference: Building Resilient Learning Communities, Scotland.
• Cowell, P.D. (June 2023) ‘Real-time digital collaboration for learning, community-building, and feedforward’. QAA Scotland International Enhancement Conference, Glasgow, UK.
• Cowell, P.D. and Cowell, J. (February 2023) ‘Disciplinary and academic skills collaboration: extending and enriching students’ learning’. QAA Quality Insights Conference.
• Cowell, P.D., Arico, F., Latreille, P. and Cox, A. (April 2022) ‘Economics education in the Covid-19 pandemic: what was done and what should be done?’. Scottish Economic Society Annual Conference, Glasgow, UK.
• Cowell, P.D. (February 2022) ‘Sustainable authentic assessment: experiences and challenges in a management school’. QAA Quality Insights Conference.
• Cowell, P.D. (November 2021) ‘Goal setting and implementation intentions to improve educational outcomes’. Southern Economic Association Conference (Presidential Session), Texas, USA.
• Cowell, P.D. (September 2021) ‘Catch you on the flip side: translating online learning into hybrid delivery’. Developments in Economics Education Conference.
• Cowell, P.D., Arico, F., Latreille, P. and Cox, A. (September 2021) ‘Economics education in the Covid-19 pandemic: what was done and what should be done?’. Developments in Economics Education Conference.
• Cowell, P.D. (July 2021) ‘Teaching Covid economics using CORE and cooperation’. Australasian Teaching Economics Conference, Brisbane, Australia.
• Cowell, P.D. (April 2021) ‘Goal setting and implementation intentions to improve educational outcomes’. Scottish Economic Society Annual Conference, Perth, UK.
• Cowell, P.D. (February 2020) ‘Economics education for a public purpose’. Invited talk, CORE Project / Nuffield Foundation, Bank of England, London, UK.
• Cowell, P.D. (April 2019) ‘Socioeconomic disadvantage and university attainment: a lasting penalty?’. Scottish Economic Society Annual Conference, Perth, UK.

Books and book chapters

• Cowell, P.D. and Arico, F. (2024) ‘Accessibility, inclusivity, and diversity in teaching economics online’, in Al-Bahrani, A., Chaudhury, P. and Sheridan, B.J. (eds.) Teaching Economics Online, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 48–63.

Other

• Quality Assurance Agency (2023). Subject Benchmark Statement: Economics (Contributor).
• Cowell, P.D. and Comerford, D. (2022) ‘Three ways to make the most of college and university – surprising insights from economics’, The Conversation, 5 October. Available at: https://theconversation.com/three-ways-to-make-the-most-of-college-and-university-surprising-insights-from-economics-191013 (Accessed: 3 March 2026).
• Cowell, P.D. (2021) ‘COVID-19 has changed university teaching – here are five things to stick with in the future’, The Conversation, 28 January. Available at: https://theconversation.com/covid-19-has-changed-university-teaching-here-are-five-things-to-stick-with-in-the-future-152287 (Accessed: 3 March 2026).
• Hicks-Keeton, J., Babones, S., Barnett, K., Cowell, P.D., Schnellman, J., Spierling, K.E. and Jones, O.A.H. (2021) ‘Is it time to reassess student assessment?’, Times Higher Education, 22 July. Available at: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/it-time-reassess-student-assessment (Accessed: 3 March 2026).
• Jisc (2021) Rethinking Assessment. Available at: https://www.jisc.ac.uk/reports/rethinking-assessment (Accessed: 3 March 2026).

Contributor, QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Economics 

Associate, Economics Network

• EC2065: Microeconomics
• EC2066: Macroeconomics