Professor Patricia Kennett
B.Sc., Ph.D.(Bristol)
Current positions
Honorary Professor
School for Policy StudiesEmeritus Professor of International and Comparative Public Policy
School for Policy StudiesPhD Supervisor
School for Policy Studies
Contact
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Biography
Patricia Kennett is Professor in Comparative and International Policy Studies in the School for Policy Studies, having joined the University of Bristol in 2004. During her time at the School Patrica has been Head of the Centre for Urban and Public Policy Research (2007-12), Director of Research (2015-17), Director of Education (2018-20) and a member of the School for Policy Studies Management Team (2007-12 and 2015-20). Most recently she was Chair of SPS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (2021-23) and was a Committee member until 2025.
Patricia’s research focuses on the intersection of global, national and local social, public and urban policy in international comparative perspective. Patricia is particularly interested in the inter-related dynamics of multi-scalar and comparative governance, place and power and how they impact policy and everyday life in communities and households and for different groups of people. This approach to understanding and explaining policy implementation, mobility and change has been explored across a range of substantive issues inclduing citizenship, the welfare state and social protection, urban homelessness, gender equality, and the global financial crisis. Recent work has focused on critical human security, state capacity and sustainable urban development and post-Covid futures. Her work has been conducted in different parts of the world, particularly East and Southeast Asia and Europe and in collaboration with international partners including Seoul National University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Japan Women’s University and Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.
Patricia has been sole Editor of Policy & Politics (2000-2003), co-editor of the Journal of Social Policy (2014-2018) and editorial board member of International and Comparative Social Policy. She was a Board Member of the Social Policy Association between 2014 and 2018.
Patricia’s research focuses on the intersection of global, national and local social, public and urban policy in international comparative perspective. Patricia is particularly interested in the inter-related dynamics of multi-scalar and comparative governance, place and power and how they impact policy and everyday life in communities and households and for different groups of people. This approach to understanding and explaining policy implementation, mobility and change has been explored across a range of substantive issues inclduing citizenship, the welfare state and social protection, urban homelessness, gender equality, and the global financial crisis. Recent work has focused on critical human security, state capacity and sustainable urban development and post-Covid futures. Her work has been conducted in different parts of the world, particularly East and Southeast Asia and Europe and in collaboration with international partners including Seoul National University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Japan Women’s University and Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.
Patricia has been sole Editor of Policy & Politics (2000-2003), co-editor of the Journal of Social Policy (2014-2018) and editorial board member of International and Comparative Social Policy. She was a Board Member of the Social Policy Association between 2014 and 2018.
Teaching
Patricia has extensive experience in teaching, designing and developing units and programmes in international and comparative social and public policy at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Programme development has included the MSc Public Policy programme in 2003 and more recently the BSc International Social and Public Policy programme, with specialist unit development including Governance, Institutions and the Global Political Economy (MSc Public Policy), International Political Economy and Social Policy, International and Comparative Social Policy, the European Union and Social Policy, and Social Policy in the Asia Pacific at undergraduate level. She has also contributed to units on cities and housing policy. To support her teaching Patricia has published a number of texts and edited collections that provide core and additional readings for most of her units which ensures that her research interests and teaching activities are closely interwoven and that students attending her courses receive an original and distinctive body of knowledge.
Patricia is committed to inclusive learning and assessment diversification and was Chair of the SPS Inclusive Curriculum Committee between 2022-24. She is also keen on promoting active and reflexive learning amongst students. Patricia has a particular interest in supporting international students and those from diverse academic backgrounds in their learning.
Patricia has supervised numerous MSc dissertations, and more than twenty Doctoral students many undertaking international and comparative policy research projects.
Patricia is committed to inclusive learning and assessment diversification and was Chair of the SPS Inclusive Curriculum Committee between 2022-24. She is also keen on promoting active and reflexive learning amongst students. Patricia has a particular interest in supporting international students and those from diverse academic backgrounds in their learning.
Patricia has supervised numerous MSc dissertations, and more than twenty Doctoral students many undertaking international and comparative policy research projects.