Robin's research focuses on the globalization of education. He is particularly interested in applying new forms of quantitative data collection and analysis (e.g. social media datasets, social network analysis) to study global trends and processes in education. He publishes research across several substantive areas related to globalization and education, including higher education internationalization, climate change and higher education, international aid to education, technology and education, and education in conflict-affected contexts.

Robin is currently principal investigator on an ESRC-funded study of school management, accountability and learning outcomes in Mumbai and Kathmandu, working in collaboration with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Tribhuvan University. He also received grants from the Higher Education Academy, and the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education.

Robin is also co-editor of the Comparative Education Review and has served on the Executive Committee of the British Association for International and Comparative Education (BAICE). In 2014, he received the George Bereday Award from the Comparative and International Education Society for his application of social network analysis to international student mobility in higher education.