I am a research fellow based at the Centre for Sustainable, Healthy and Learning Cities and Neighbourhoods, University of Glasgow, funded via UK Research and Innovation as part of the UK Government’s Global Challenges Research Fund.

I work at the nexus of development and education for vulnerable and marginalised populations – the work that I see as critical to preventing conflict, reaching and sustaining just and inclusive peace, and building sustainable and cohesive societies.

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.

While I am engaged in a number of projects across the world, my main geographic focus at the moment encompasses seven countries: Bangladesh, China, India, the Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, and Tanzania.

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

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

List by: Type | Date

Research Grants:

• 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)
• 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 - Guide on prevention of violent extremism through education. (Consultant, UNESCO MGIEP, 2016-2018)

Current PhD student:

Rhona Brown, “Perceptions and experiences of urban neighbourhood teaching and learning environments and implications for pedagogy in Tanzanian primary schools: a comparative case study”

Prizes, awards & distinctions

• 2015-2019: University of Hong Kong (Postgraduate Scholarship)
• 2017: Oceania Comparative and International Education Society (New Scholar Award)
• 2017: Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (Scholarly Excellence Award)
• 2017: Common Ground Centre, Kenya (Earnest Fellowship, Human Rights Protection)

Editorial boards

• 2020 - present: International Education Journal: Comparative Perspectives

Professional & learned societies

• 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: Comparative Education Society of Asia (The Philippines)
• 2016: Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (Fiji)
• 2016: World Congress of Comparative Education Societies (China)
• 2016: Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain (UK)

Knowledge Exchange: 

Publications

- Schools out forever? Supporting resilient learning in the face of COVID-19. Impakter Magazine (2020).

- Support thy neighbour: why a strong local response will help beat COVID-19. Center for Sustainable, Healthy and Learning Cities Blog (2020; with Dr Ramjee Bhandari).

- Gender inequality in universities. Impakter Magazine (2018; with Dr Liz Jackson).

- Women and violent extremism. Impakter Magazine (2018).

- Indigenous peoples: Key trends that affect their development. Impakter Magazine (2017).

- Indigenous peoples and their rights: How they started, why they matter. Impakter Magazine (2017).

- Building safe resilient urban spaces. Impakter Magazine (2017).

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
• Academic book publisher: Springer Briefs in Education
• Academic Conference: Comparative and International Education Society

Other service to profession:

Co-editor, Encyclopaedia of Education for Sustainable Development, The University of Hong Kong, 2015-2020 (http://www.encyclopediaesd.com)

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