Paula is a Reader in Education at the School of Education, University of the West of Scotland, and Director of Vision Schools Scotland. Originally a primary teacher, Paula has engaged in Holocaust educational research for more than twenty years. This has involved her writing teaching resources for Scottish primary and secondary teachers to support their teaching of the Holocaust and Citizenship, collaborations with the Anne Frank Trust UK, the Holocaust Educational Trust, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and the National Holocaust Centre and Museum, and delivery of CPD in Holocaust education to local authorities. Paula is co-editor of Teaching Controversial Issues in the Classroom: Key Issues and Debates, (Continuum, 2012).

Paula continues to engage in Holocaust educational research and activities. A former trustee of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, Paula is currently a member of the Academic Advisory Board at the National Holocaust Centre and Museum, the Scottish Holocaust Memorial Day Steering Committee, and is a UK delegate on the International Holocaust Research Alliance.

Paula contributes to the PGDEP and BA(Hons) Education programmes and has responsibility for several modules.

Publications (last 4 years)

◾ Szjenmann, C.C., Cowan, P. & Griffiths, J. (eds.) (2018). A Primary or Secondary Concern: Holocaust Education in Schools in the 21st Century. London, Palgrave MacMillan.

◾ Cowan, P. and Maitles, H. (2017) Understanding and Teaching Holocaust Education. London, Sage

◾ Cowan, P. (2015) Reconceptualising the Holocaust and Holocaust education in countries that escaped Nazi occupation: A Scottish perspective. In E.D. Stevick, E.D. & D. L. Michaels, D. (eds.) Holocaust Education: Promise, Practice, Power and Potential, London, Routledge, pp. 167-179.

◾ Cowan, P. (2015) A Selective Annotated Guide to Holocaust Websites, Prism 7, pp.96-101.

◾ Cowan, P. and Maitles, H. (2015) Holocaust Education in Scotland: Taking the Lead or Falling Behind? In Z. Gross and E.D. Stevick, (eds.) As the Witnesses Fall Silent: 21st Century Holocaust Education in Curriculum Policy and Practice, Springer, pp. 439-452.