I am Professor of Higher Education and Associate Dean (Head of Research, External Engagement and Resources) of the Faculty of Education and Society at the University of Sunderland. I have over 30 years' experience of teaching in schools and higher education, moving to teacher education in 1993.

My career started as a research psychologist in Staffordshire and then I trained as a teacher. I began teaching in a Merseyside comprehensive school, moving to Cambridgeshire later. Initially, I taught Science and the later moved to Computing and IT, becoming Head of Information Technology in the mid eighties. I rose to Senior Teacher, in charge of the Curriculum and Pastoral arrangements for forms 3-5 (now Years 9-11). Later, I worked at the University of Cambridge, researching and developing schemes of Achievement Recording and developing the UK's first International Student Centred Review scheme which I launched around the world operating in Europe, Asia and South America.

I moved to the School of Education at the University of Sunderland in 1993 as Senior Lecturer and was later promoted to Principal Lecturer in Education. I was Programme Leader for the Secondary Programme of School and College-based Initial Teacher Training and later became Subject Area Leader for Education, before being promoted to Associate Director of the School of Education (Head of Initial Teacher Training and Quality Enhancement) and then to Associate Dean of the Faculty with responsibility for Research, External Engagement, Resources and Staffing in the Faculty which includes Education, Culture and Social Sciences.

In my professional life, I have travelled widely, providing educational consultancy for governments and other agencies such as the United Nations and the British Council, in South America, Egypt and Saudi Arabia as well as most countries in Europe.

My main research interests are Web-based Learning, Management of Education, Competence-based assessment in Higher Education, and Quality Assurance and Enhancement in Compulsory and Higher Education. I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Member of the Association of University Administrators, a member of the British Computer Society and a Chartered IT Professional.

• NEAL, I (2011) Preparing students for Teaching Practice: early placements in Initial Teacher Education Education-Today (www.education-today.net/neal/preptp.pdf)
• CURRIE, C. & NEAL, I (2011) Shakespeare and the Spheres: the representation of astrology, astronomy and folklore surrounding the moon in King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest. Education-Today (www.education-today.net/currie/spheres.pdf)
• NEAL, I (2008) Doing Other People’s Training Presentations - a guide for teachers in implementing a scheme. Education-Today (www.education-today.net/neal/presenting.pdf)
• NEAL, I & NEAL, L M M (2007) A model for costing taught programmes. Association of University Administrators’ Annual Conference, University of Nottingham, 2007
• O'BRIEN, A & NEAL, I (2007) Boys’ Writing … a hot topic but what are the strategies? Education-Today (www.education-today.net/obrien/boyswriting.pdf)
• NEAL, I (2006)  Curriculum Efficiency – some points for consideration.  Education-Today (www.education-today.net/neal/ce.pdf)
• NEAL, I (2005)  Flexible Learning Systems and Operational Change  Education-Today (www.education-today.net/neal/fls_oc.pdf)
• NEAL, I (2003) Achieving institutional buy-in. Association of University Administrators’ Annual Conference, University of Derby, 2003
• NEAL, I (2003) Helping academics and students do more administration by letting them use a student administration system.  Association of University Administrators’ Annual Conference, University of Derby, 2003
• NEAL, I & STAFFORD, R (2002) Time and Space: Implementing VLE and MLE support for 24 hour a day lifelong learning.  Do you 24x7?  National conference.  Organisers: JMU, SHU and UoS.  15 November 2002.
• NEAL, I G (2002) Business Process Review/Re-engineering at the University of Sunderland – the immediate effect on staff and systems. Education-Today (www.education-today.net/neal/bpr.pdf)
• NEAL, I. G., HASWELL, G., STAFFORD, R. (2002). Joined-up Learning Systems Distributed and Electronic Learning Group (DELG)/JISC Committee for Learning & Teaching (JCLT) Joint Conference. Manchester. 15 February 2002. (Poster Presentation)
• NEAL, I.G. (2002) Emerging VLEs - where does the Information Service fit in. Invited speaker - Janet User Group for Libraries[JUGL] national seminar, 17 January 2002
• NEAL, I.G. (2002) Selecting Business Systems - while achieving institutional 'buy-in'. BISinfoNet/Knowledge Centre. (http://www.bisinfonet.ac.uk/InfoKits/infokit-related-files/sunderland-case-study)
• NEAL, I G & STAFFORD, R (2001) Constructing a Managed Learning Environment: Tools, tactics and the human experience. JISC Conference, Edinburgh. 28 November 2001.
• NEAL, I.G. (2001) Getting the institution involved. JISC Committee for Integrated Environments for Learners (JCIEL) Conference, Manchester, 14 October 2001.
• 2000 Research programme funded by the Department for Education and Employment: Evaluation of Partnership for Study Support project.  Research funding £175,000.
• NEAL, I.G. (1999)  The effects of OFSTED Grading on Higher Education On-site Partnerships.  Sixth University of Sunderland Teaching and Learning Conference.
• NEAL, I.G. (1997) The current state of NVQ and Key Skills  Keynote address - GSA Annual Conference, Bath.
• TTA (1996) Developing Partnerships in Initial Teacher Training. HMSO, London Part of writing team.
• NEAL, I.G. and ELLIOTT, J (1994) Recording Competencies in Initial Teacher Training. BPS Annual Education Conference. Reading, UK.
• NEAL, I.G. (1993) Profiling in Higher Education. University of Cambridge, UK.
• NEAL, I.G. (1992)  Effectiveness of training for examiners of Science and IT.  University of Cambridge, UK.
• NEAL, I.G. (1992) Curriculum Development and Organisation.  ECIS Principals' and Administrators' Conference.  Prague.
• NEAL, I.G. (1992) Assessment and Recording of General Skills.  ESSARP Regional Conference. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• NEAL, I.G. (1992) Curriculum development - approaches to reporting ECIS/University of Cambridge, UK.
• NEAL, I.G. (1992) Curriculum Development at a Start. ESSARP Regional Conference.  Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• NEAL, I.G. (1992) Assessment, Profiling and Reality. ESSARP Regional Conference.  Mar del Plata, Argentina.
• NEAL, I.G.  (1992) The Problem with Reporting ...  The International Educator.  January 1992.
• NEAL, I.G.  (1992) , The National Record of Achievement - its Value to Employers. TECTalk the journal of South Cambridgeshire Training and Enterprise Council August 1992.
• NEAL, I.G. (1992) Recording achievement in International Schools. ECIS Annual Conference.  Nice, France.
• 1999 Research programme funded by the English Speaking Scholastic Association of the River Plate [ESSARP]: Effectiveness of Continuing Professional Development in Argentina.  Research funding £15,000. The fieldwork for project was carried out mainly in Argentina.
• NEAL, I.G. (1991) National Records of Achievement. Training Enterprise and Education Directorate Conference.  Sheffield.
• NEAL, I.G.  (1991)  Curriculum Development without Tears.  Inter-Ed [the Journal of AAIE].  August 1991. AAIE, NewYork.
• NEAL, I.G.  (1991) [Ed]  Records of Achievement Training and Support Series [12 in number].  University of Cambridge, UK.  ISBN: various.
• NEAL, I.G.  (1991) [Ed]  International Document of Education Training and Support Series [12 in number].  University of Cambridge, UK.  ISBN: various.
• 1991 Research programme funded by the European Council of International Schools: Evaluation of training for examiners of Science and IT.  Research funding £8000.  The field work was carried out in 15 schools in Spain.  Leading to:
• NEAL, I.G. (1991) The International Document of Education - Implementation and Methods. International General Certificate of Secondary Education Annual Training Conference.  Cambridge UK.
• NEAL, I.G. (1991) Curriculum Development and Student Centred Review. International Consultancy and Training Service Conference.  Cambridge, UK.
• NEAL, I.G. (1991) Unambiguous Reporting - using SCR for Curriculum Development. European Council of International Schools Annual Conference.  Birmingham, UK.
• NEAL, I.G.  (1990)  Supporting the International Document of Education - A Guide for IDE Trainers.  University of Cambridge, UK. ISBN 1 873140 40 1
• NEAL, I.G. (1990) Documents of International Transfer. International General Certificate of Secondary Education Annual Training Conference.  Cambridge.
• NEAL, I.G. (1990) How to organise your Curriculum without tears. European Council of International Schools Annual Conference.  Marbella, Spain.
• NEAL, I.G. (1989) Curriculum Development and Student Centred Review. European Council of International Schools Annual Conference.  The Hague, Netherlands.
• NEAL, I.G. & NEAL, L.M.M.  (1989) Validating Schools. University of Cambridge,

• Consultancy for British Council, Egypt - Examination item writing
• Consultancy for British Council, Egypt - Teacher training course (INSET)
• Consultancy for NCVQ, London NRA implementation and operation
• Consultancy for TEED/Department of Education and Science, Sheffield NRA and SEN
• Consultancy for United Nations in USA - Approaches to Profiling
• Consultancy for University of Cambridge - Leader of organisation-wide review of Office Systems provision, implementation and need
• Consultancy for World Bank - Assessment methodology in Pakistan
• Consultancy to Sunderland Health Authority on School Refusers Project
• DfEE funded national evaluation of Partners for Study Support Project (£175,000)
• Editorial reviewer – Education Today
• External consultant, examiner and approval panel member for 4 Universities
• Inspection for English Speaking Scholastic Association of the River Plate (ESSARP) - Seven school inspections in and around Buenos Aires
• Inspection for European Council of International Schools - Saudi Arabia British International School
• Invited member of Teacher Training Agency working and focus group on career entry profiles for teachers.
• Invited member of Teacher Training Agency working group on ITT Partnership Support Mechanisms.
• Keynote address given to City of Sunderland Annual Education Conference. Teachers Meeting the Challenge of Change.
• Keynote address given to GSA Annual National Conference
• Leader of Profiling of Students working group, University of Sunderland
• OFSTED inspection of Comprehensive Schools
• Referee for Educational Research
• Training developed and delivered for International Consultancy and Training Service of University of Cambridge - Assessment methodology for Government Ministers and International Educators
• Training programme designed and delivered for British Council, Egypt - Teacher training for IGCSE/AICE
• Training programme designed and delivered for Durham LEA - Assessment and Counselling course
• Training programme designed and delivered for South Tyneside LEA - Preparation for OFSTED