Dr Yulia Nesterova
- Research Associate - Education & International Development (School of Education)
Biography
I am a research fellow based at the Centre for Sustainable, Healthy and Learning Cities and Neighbourhoods (SHLC), University of Glasgow, funded via UK Research and Innovation as part of the UK Government’s Global Challenges Research Fund. I am also a core member of the Centre for Research and Development in Adult and Lifelong Learning.
My research interests include (1) how inequalities and injustices are reproduced and (2) how partnerships and local action can address and redress them. My current research projects can be divided into two broad areas: one is education and international development and the other is peacebuilding. For the international development part, I am working on a large project with partners in seven countries (Bangladesh, China, India, Rwanda, the Philippines, South Africa, and Tanzania) investigating inequalities in education and health created by rapid urbanisation. I am also leading a GCRF-funded project on lifelong learning with partners in Benin, Kenya, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe and an SHLC-funded project on educational planning to achieve Education 2030 with partners in Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Rwanda, in partnership with UNESCO IIEP. For the peacebuilding part, I am leading a British Academy-funded project on local and place-based approaches to peacebuilding in conflict and post-conflict zones and co-leading an ESRC-funded project on youth engagement in peace processes.
I have a wide-ranging and varied professional experience in research, policy development, curriculum design, and programme and project management with education institutions, governments, multi-laterals, and NGOs across the world. Prior to joining the University of Glasgow in January 2020, I worked as a consultant on peace and sustainability in Asia-Pacific for UNESCO Bangkok, in partnership with the Governments of Japan and Thailand, and a consultant on prevention of violent extremism for UNESCO MGIEP, in partnership with the Australian Government. My other key research projects and publications have focused on the rights, education, and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples, ethnic and religious minorities, women in complex and sensitive contexts, and other disadvantaged populations. I have conducted extensive research in Taiwan, Ethiopia, Hong Kong S.A.R., Russia, and Brazil, along with work with UNESCO’s Member States in Asia and the Pacific.
Qualifications:
PhD (Education), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R.
MA (Education and Globalisation), University of Oulu, Finland
MA (History/African Studies), Dalarna University, Sweden
Research interests
Education, Development, and Peace in general.
In particular:
- Addressing inequalities/injustices faced by minority groups (Indigenous, religious, and ethnic) in and through education/learning
- The role of education in peacebuilding, reconciliation, and conflict transformation
- Adult and youth lifelong learning (life skills, continuing and vocational training, citizenship learning) for development and peacebuilding
- Gender, education/learning, and health in conflict and post-conflict areas
- Local, place-based, community-driven solutions and programming for development
- Ethical and effective engagement of marginalised (unreachable) populations in peacebuilding and development
- Evidence-based and transformational education policy and policymaking
Grants
Research Grants:
- Local challenges, global imperatives: cities at the forefront to achieve Education 2030. (PI, SHLC Capacity Development Acceleration Fund, 2021-2022)
- Local, place-based, and community-driven approaches to peacebuilding. (PI, British Academy/Leverhulme grant, 2020-2021)
- Developing inclusive lifelong learning policies and practices in the Global South. (PI, Global Challenges Research Fund grant, 2020-2021)
- Youth-led peace: inclusion of youth in peace processes. (Co-I, Economic and Social Research Council, Impact Acceleration Account, 2020-2021)
- Preparing teachers for inclusive education. (PI, Kazan Federal University Fund, Innovative Research in Education, 2020)
- Experiences of local research postgraduate students at the University of Hong Kong. (Co-I, University of Hong Kong Teaching Development Grant, 2019-2021)
- Teacher perceptions of Indigenous learners in Taiwan. (PI, Universitas21, 2018-2019)
- Experiences of international research postgraduate students at the University of Hong Kong. (Co-I, University of Hong Kong Teaching Development Grant, 2016-2018)
Consultancies:
- National and subnational approaches to regulating private technical and vocational education and training: comparative insights from Asia and Africa. (Author, UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report, 2020-2021)
- Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing for a sustainable living. (Author, UNESCO Futures of Education, 2020)
- The UNESCO Together for Peace T4P Initiative: A shared commitment to building a peaceful and sustainable future in Asia-Pacific. (Consultant, UNESCO Office Bangkok and Regional Bureau for Education in Asia and the Pacific, 2019)
- #YouthWagingPeace - Prevention of violent extremism through education. (Consultant, UNESCO MGIEP, 2016-2018)
Knowledge Exchange Grants:
- "Neighbourhood matters" virtual event (Co-lead, Economic and Social Research Council, Festival of Social Sciences, 2020)
Supervision
Unfortunately I am currently unable to accept new applications for supervision.
Current PhD student:
- Brown, Rhona
Perceptions and experiences of urban neighbourhood teaching and learning environments and implications for pedagogy in Tanzanian primary schools: a comparative case study.
Professional activities & recognition
Prizes, awards & distinctions
- 2015-2019: PhD Scholarship (incl. fieldwork, travel grants) (University of Hong Kong)
- 2017: Scholarly Excellence Award (Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia)
- 2017: New Scholar Award (Oceania Comparative and International Education Society)
- 2017: Earnest Fellowship, Human Rights Protection (Common Ground Centre, Kenya)
- 2011: Academic Excellence (University of Oulu Scholarship Foundation)
Editorial boards
- 2020 - present: International Education Journal: Comparative Perspectives
Professional & learned societies
- 2020 - present: Member, Development Studies Association, Ireland
- 2018 - present: Member, Asia and the Pacific Policy Society
- 2018 - present: Member, Comparative Education Society of Europe
- 2017 - present: Member, Network for International Policies and Cooperation in Education and Training
- 2017 - present: Member, Comparative and International Education Society
- 2016 - present: Member, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
- 2015 - present: Member, International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs
Selected international presentations
- 2019: Comparative and International Education Society (USA)
- 2019: American Educational Research Association (Canada)
- 2018: Comparative and International Education Society (Mexico)
- 2018: Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (New Zealand)
- 2018: Oceania Comparative and International Education Society (New Zealand)
- 2018: Comparative Education Society of Europe (Cyprus)
- 2018: Comparative Education Society of Asia (Cambodia)
- 2017: Comparative and International Education Society (USA)
- 2017: Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (Australia)
- 2017: Oceania Comparative and International Education Society (New Caledonia)
- 2016: Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (Fiji)
- 2016: Comparative Education Society of Asia (Philippines)
- 2016: World Congress of Comparative Education Societies (China)
- 2016: Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain (UK)
Additional information
Knowledge Exchange:
Non-academic presentations and workshops
- “Belonging” and UNESCO MGIEP’s #YouthWagingPeace – Youth-led guide on prevention of violent extremism through education [with W.Y. Alice Chan]. World Anti-Bullying Forum, Ireland, June 2019.
- It’s not enough to counter violent extremism, we need to prevent it. DefenceIQ’s 17th Annual Countering Violent Extremism Global Event, London, May 2018.
- Workshop for human rights teachers, scholars, and activists: UNESCO MGIEP Youth-led Guide on Prevention of Violent Extremism through Education [with Carolyn Nash]. 8th International Conference on Human Rights Education, Canada, December 2017.
- Training for teachers and school administrators: Exploring Push and Pull factors of Violent Extremism. UNESCO MGIEP Capacity Building Workshop for Teachers on Preventing Violence Extremism, India, August 2017.
- Training for teachers and school administrators: Key Interventions in Prevention of Violent Extremism. UNESCO MGIEP Capacity Building Workshop for Teachers on Preventing Violence Extremism, India, August 2017.
Peer Reviewer:
- Academic journals: Policy Futures in Education; International Education Journal: Comparative Perspectives; Educational Philosophy and Theory; European Journal of Higher Education; Cambridge Journal of Education; Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education; International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
- Academic book publisher: Springer Briefs in Education
- Academic Conference: Comparative and International Education Society
Other service to profession:
Conference Committee Member, UKFIET Conference 2021 "Building Back Better," 2020-present
Member of Research Concordat Working Group, University of Glasgow, 2020-present
Co-editor, Encyclopaedia of Education for Sustainable Development, The University of Hong Kong, 2015-2020
Assistant Editor, Society’s Newsletter, Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia, 2016-2018
Moderator, online discussion on Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Education. Invited by UNESCO MGIEP, 2017
UNESCO TAGe Delegate, UNESCO International Conference on Prevention of Violent Extremism through Education: Taking Action (New Delhi), 2016