Congratulations to Dr Achala Gupta, Associate Professor of Sociology of Education, who has been awarded the 2025 Hans L. Zetterberg Prize in Sociology.

This prize is awarded annually to young researchers, who through their scholarly work in sociology, combining theory and practice, have advanced the research front. The prize was formally presented on 5 November at Uppsala University in Sweden, where Dr Gupta also delivered a lecture on global shadow education.

Dr Gupta is a sociologist of education, who is breaking new ground in this field. Her research has provided insights into how alternative arenas for learning affect students’ and teachers’ attitudes to education and learning processes, such as commercial institutions that offer tutoring and training. She has published research articles on a range of subjects including social class and educational privilege, heterogeneity of middle-class advantage, and teacher-entrepreneurialism.

Dr Gupta is also Co-lead of the Centre for Research in Inclusion at the University of Southampton.