Visiting scholars, School of Education - University of Birmingham

The School of Education invites applications to our Visiting Scholars scheme. The scheme is open to academics at other institutions wishing to undertake research within the School which is similar to that which is already undertaken at the School and to take part in the academic life of the University of Birmingham.

The School of Education welcomes requests from individual scholars who wish to spend periods of up to one year in the first instance in the School pursuing research, but without registering for a formal academic qualification. A visiting scholar whose application is successful will be granted affiliation to one of the School’s three departments during their time working in Birmingham.

The scheme is designed for those scholars who wish to focus on a specific research area, and is not suitable for those who simply want to gain general experience of the UK education system. There are two designations available:

Visiting Scholar (for those already with a Ph.D or Ed.D).
Visiting Postgraduate Research Student (for experienced and qualified education personnel anticipating doctoral work).

As all activities are conducted in English, prospective scholars will be expected to have a level of IELT 7 in written and spoken English. Confirmation of this will be requested.

Applying to be a Visiting Scholar

Prospective Visiting Scholars are also required to contact members of staff in the School of Education to seek their support before making a formal request. This will help ensure that the proposed area of research coincides with current research interests and expertise within the School of Education.

Once confirmation has been received from the supporting staff member, please email the School of Education Compliance Office for an application form at compliance-soe@contacts.bham.ac.uk

The title of Visiting Scholar will apply for the fixed duration of the Scholar’s association with the School of Education as agreed by the terms of the successful application.

We advise that you apply 3 months in advance if you are from the EU 4 months in advance if you are not from the EU.

Academic staff in the school

Visa Requirements

As a UK Border Agency (UKBA) Tier 4 Sponsor, The University of Birmingham is required to ensure that all our international visitors hold a visa which is appropriate for the purpose of their visit to the UK. If your application is successful, our International Student Team (IST) will carry out an assessment to identify the correct visa for your visit. If necessary, we will issue the correct documentation in support of your visa application; but it is the Scholar’s responsibility to use this to enter the UK under the advised visa route. No correspondence from the University of Birmingham, other than where specified, should be used in support of a visa application.

Fees and Entitlements

A fee of £3,000 per 12 months or £2,000 per 1-6 months is payable to the University of Birmingham for the period of the scheme. The fee entitles the Scholar to:

University of Birmingham ID card, which enables access to University staff and student facilities;
Access to Information Services (including libraries) and to computer facilities;
A University of Birmingham email address (if required);
Contact with a ‘mentor’, who will be a member of the School of Education academic staff;
Attendance at general seminars and open lectures;
Potential to host a seminar within the School and present research findings to staff and students before the visit ends;
Request to write a short report providing feedback on your visit and detailing what has been achieved.

The fee is payable once the application has been approved and should be made before the start date of the Scholar’s term at Birmingham. If additional resources or inputs are required by the Scholar, then the above fee may be increased. Space in the school is extremely limited. If possible, a hot-desk will be provided; alternatively, scholars are entitled to use the dedicated post-graduate study rooms in the building.

Fees can be paid online at the University Online Shop

Please note that it isn’t possible to conduct research within schools in the UK without a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. Responsibility for arranging for a DBS check to be completed, or for arranging to undertake research in schools will lie with the Scholar. Please visit the Home Office pages UK Visas and Immigration for more information.

Accommodation

University living accommodation is very limited, particularly for periods of less than one academic year. The University may be able to provide limited advice on where to find appropriate private accommodation or reasonable bed-and-breakfast hotels, however responsibility for arranging accommodation will lie with the Scholar. Please visit the Accommodation pages for more information, or visit the LIVING shop, Ground Floor, University Centre on campus once at the University.

Examples of current and previous visiting scholars

Minghao Kang

Minghao Kang is a visiting scholar in the School of Education at the University of Birmingham and a lecturer in the School of Foreign Studies at East China University of Political Science and Law (Shanghai, China). He holds a PhD degree from Tongji University (Shanghai, China). His research interests include language policy and planning, foreign language teacher development.

Research within the School of Education

Dr Minghao Kang is collaborating with Dr Meng Tian to examine the research engagement of LOTE (Languages Other than English) teachers in Chinese universities.

Presentations and publications

He has attended academic conferences and PhD-courses in China and the UK.

His main publications are:

Kang, M., Shen, Q. & Zheng, Y. (2022). LOTE (Languages Other than English) Teachers’ Emotions and Professional Identity in Response to Educational Reforms: A Social-Psychological Perspective. Sustainability, 14(17). DOI: 10.3390/su141710788. (SSCI, Q2)

Kang, M. & Shen, Q. (2022). Understanding University LOTE (Languages Other than English) Teachers’ Agency under The Belt and Road Initiative. Foreign Language Education in China, 5(3), pp.3-11. (CSSCI)

Shen, Q. & Kang, M. (2022). The Development of National Emergency Language Capacities: A Perspective from Language Planning. Journal of Shaanxi Normal University(Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), 51(6), pp.104-114. (CSSCI)

Shen, Q. & Kang, M. (2022). A Comparative Study of Language Education Planning in Major Countries of the World from the Perspective of Scientific and Technological Revolution. Journal of Yunnan Normal University(Teaching & Studying Chinese as a Foreign Language Edition), 20(5), pp.1-8.

Kang, M.& Chen, Y.(2020). The New Trend of Foreign Language and Literature Discipline from the Perspective of Global Governance: An Overview of the First Summit on Global Governance and Foreign Languages Studies. Foreign Languages in China, 17(2), pp.105-108. (CSSCI)

Shen, Q. & Kang, M. (2020). Towards a Framework of Language Governance Planning against Public Health Emergency of International Concern（PHEIC）. Journal of Xinjiang Normal University(Edition of Philosophy and Social Sciences), 41(5), pp. 64-74.(CSSCI)

Gao, X. & Kang, M. (2021). Issues and Approaches in Language Policy Research Abroad. Applied Linguistics, (1), pp.16-27.(CSSCI)

Kang, M. & Shen, Q. (2020).Advances in International Language Policy and Planning Studies. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, (6)，pp.19-29.

Contact details

Email: mxk314@student.bham.ac.uk
Email: 3194@ecupl.edu.cn

Naima Qureshi

Dr. Naima Qureshi has earned her PhD in Teacher Education from the University of Warwick, UK. She currently holds the position of Assistant Professor, at Division of Education, University of Education, Pakistan. She brings along more than 15 years of higher education teaching experience and practical experience in leading and monitoring research and teachers training projects for educational leaders and teachers with diverse international backgrounds.

Research within the School of Education

Dr. Naima Qureshi is a Post-Doc visiting fellow at School of Education. Under the supervision of Dr. Meng Tian, Associate Professor in Educational Leadership and Global Engagement Lead, School of Education, University of Birmingham, she is conducting research on the dynamic landscape of global citizenship within teacher education. Specifically, her research focuses on the pedagogies, practices and competencies of teacher educators in global citizenship in Pakistan.

Professional experience

Dr. Qureshi’s research interests lie in teacher education, higher education leadership, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global Citizenship. Over the years she has supervised six PhDs and more than 15 MPhil research projects into the nuanced intersections of teacher education and education for sustainable development, social justice, environmental consciousness, digital and ecological citizenship. This unique area of specialization has allowed her to uncover innovative pedagogies that equip educators, pre-service teachers and adults with the necessary tools and competencies to become conscious and critical global citizens. Dr. Qureshi’s comprehensive research publication record includes more than 20 research papers. Seven of her publications (five research papers and two book chapters) are in internationally recognized journals/books.