edition of The Study Skills Handbook was published in 2019. The Lifelong Learning Centre Stella Cottrell was appointed as Director of the Lifelong Learning Centre (LLC) in July 2005. On her appointment the University of Leeds reported her as saying, "This is absolutely the right time for the University to be looking at its social inclusion agenda, and to build on its current innovatory work with adult learners." The objective of the centre is to deliver programmes and services that: Promote and support the development of part-time and mature undergraduate study at Leeds Support progression onto University of Leeds programmes for adults from groups under-represented in HE Ensure that part-time and mature students achieve and flourish at the University of Leeds. Philosophy Critical thinking According to Cottrell, students are likely to have difficulty engaging in critical analysis if: they lack adequate knowledge of the subject they have poor reading skills, or vocabulary they are unsure of the purpose of their analysis they are unsure of the level of discourse expected from them Cottrell argues that critical thinking makes sense to the student if it is contextualised. Lecturers can encourage critical thought through the careful structuring of information and set exercises. In 2005, Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument was published. The book aimed to help readers "develop an understanding of what is meant by critical thinking, and to develop their own reasoning skills". Cottrell grounds critical thinking as an everyday activity, such as deciding whether we believe something that we're told. Within an academic context, she presents the challenge of thinking critically as rigorous verification and, if justified by the evidence, having the confidence to argue for an alternative view. In 2011, Victor Glynn reviewed it as "one of the best texts for general critical thinking around at the moment" in Education Bookseller. The current, third, edition of Critical Thinking Skills, published in 2017. Personalised learning Cottrell encourages students to personalise their learning by reflecting on the way they learn and under what circumstances this is most effective. "If you are open, flexible and creative in trying new approaches, you will develop into a more rounded personality and a more effective learner". Her books take the position that each student is unique in the particular details of: how we learn how we respond to new tasks, circumstances, people and challenges what we need in order to perform at