We are delighted to invite you to join the East Midlands Network for Economics Education (EMNEE)—a new collaborative initiative bringing together economics educators from across the region.
We welcome all colleagues at East Midlands University institutions and beyond, who are interested in economics education—whether you teach economics directly or in related disciplines—to join the network. We have a range of opportunities for involvement, including seminars, collaborative projects, and professional development.
Join EMNEEs mailing list
Colleagues across the East Midlands Universities and broader, and who teach or are interested in teaching economics are welcome to join the mailing list: jiscmail.ac.uk/EMNEE
Join EMNEEs LinkedIn page
Join our LinkedIn page on linkedin.com/company/109810144
EMNEE mission
To enhance teaching and learning in economics in the East Midlands through sharing best practice, fostering collaboration, and supporting professional development. EMNEE will provide a space for presentations, discussion of pedagogy, and the development of cross-institutional projects.
Events
Upcoming events
'EMNEE Summer Event'
You are invited to the EMNEE Summer Event, aimed to share practice as well as an opportunity to meet colleagues across institutions. More information will be shared closer to the event.
Event Information:
Date: Monday, 29th June
Time: 12:00–13:00
Format: Online via Teams
Speakers
- Dr. Davina Bird and Dr. Erkan Demirbas, University of Lincoln – ‘The Cartoon Creation Centre: A Hub for Cross-Disciplinary Analogies’.
The Cartoon Creation Centre brings together 35 academics and students from over 18 universities to collaboratively create analogy-based cartoons. As a hub for cross-disciplinary storytelling, we extend beyond economics into fields like computer science. In this process, students are not only our audience, but strategic partners. Website: https://cartooncreationcentre.wordpress.com/who-we-are/
- Dr. Nermeen Harb, University of Leicester– ‘Evaluating the Effectiveness of Academic Support on Postgraduate Learning and Engagement: A Diversity View.'
This presentation looks at the impact of targeted lecturer-led initiative in a 30-credit Business Analytics module, focusing on academic writing, AI literacy, and general support for the key assessment component. Using student survey data and performance outcomes, we explore how academic support can be designed to be inclusive and equitable for all students.
TeachECONference2026
Our event takes place just before the start of the CTaLE biannual online TeachECONference2026 which runs between 29-30 June. This is a great chance to engage in a global educational economics event including to plenary sessions on AI in Economics Education and Teaching Macroeconomics. You can find the programme which includes presentations on student engagement, assessments and feedback, and technology in the classroom. Registration is now open (here).
We will also be running a couple of watch parties for those interested in coming together for this exciting event. For more information, please contact Nadia Zakir, University of Leicester (nz42@leicester.ac.uk) or Azamat Valei, University of Nottingham (Azamat.Valei@nottingham.ac.uk).
Past events
'EMNEE Spring Webinar' - Wednesday, 18th March
Speakers
- Dr. Azamat Valei, University of Nottingham – ‘The Effect of A-levels on Academic Performance in Economics Degrees’.
This presentation examines how students’ pre‑university backgrounds shape academic performance in Year 1 core modules. Using regression analysis, he investigates the effects of A‑level subjects, marks, and other factors on outcomes in Microeconomics and Mathematics, incorporating categorical variables to reflect programme‑level differences.
- Dr. Eugene Michaels, University of Derby – ‘Bibiometric analysis of literature on AI in economics education - a activity with/for students'
This presentation introduces bibliometric analysis and visualisation tools, presenting the insights gained when he deployed them on the topic of AI pedagogy in economics. The presentation will proceed to use these insights to develop a technology-enhanced learning activity for students and summarise the feedback received when run in a group of MSc students.
Slide shows are available upon request to the Steering Committee (below).
'EMNEE Launch Webinar' - Wednesday, 26th November
Speakers
- Dr. Alexandra Arntsen, Nottingham Trent University – ‘An exploration of tools to Decarbonize and Decolonise the Economics Curriculum’
Alexandra is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at Nottingham Trent University, UK. Her research interests lie within decolonial, ecological, feminist and labour economics. She is a Steering Group member of D-Econ, an organisation seeking to diversify and decolonise economics. She has published research in the fields on decoloniality, decarbonisation, work-time reduction and pro-environmental behaviour. - Dr. Christopher Wilson, Loughborough University – ‘Using an Interactive Classroom Game to Improve the Teaching of Mixed Strategies’ (with Matt Olczak)
Chris’s research spans industrial organisation and behavioural economics, with particular interests in consumer behaviour, advertising and pricing. He has published in top journals such as the RAND Journal of Economics, American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, and European Economic Review, and presented his work at several government departments. Chris also regularly advises and trains staff at the economic consultancy, Economic Insight, where he acts as an Associate.
Slide shows are available upon request to the Steering Committee.
Steering Committee
Alexandra Arntsen, Nottingham Trent University
- alexandra.arntsen@ntu.ac.uk
Christopher Wilson, Loughborough University
- C.M.Wilson@lboro.ac.uk
Davina Bird, University of Lincoln
- DBird@lincoln.ac.uk
Eugene Michaels, University of Derby
- e.i.michaels@derby.ac.uk
Nadia Zakir, University of Leicester
- nz42@leicester.ac.uk
Nermeen Harb, University of Leicester
- nh246@leicester.ac.uk
Alison Sinclair, University of Nottingham
- Alison.Sinclair@nottingham.ac.uk
Azamat Valei, University of Nottingham
Azamat.Valei@nottingham.ac.uk
Jing Ma, De Montfort University
- jing.m.ma@dmu.ac.uk
