Jawiria Naseem is an Associate Professor in Education and Social Justice at the University of Birmingham, where she joined the School of Education in 2017. She previously held lectureships in Community Development at Birkbeck, University of London; Sociology at Paris Dauphine University; and Education Studies at Middlesex University. She completed her PhD in Sociology at UCL Institute of Education, following postgraduate studies in post-colonial studies and cultural studies in France.
Jawiria’s research examines the intersections of race, gender, migration, education and employment, with a particular focus on social inequalities and the experiences of minoritised groups in higher education and the labour market. Her work has explored graduate transitions into employment, racialised inequalities in professional experiences, belonging among minority ethnic students, and the experiences of minority ethnic doctoral students.
Her more recent research focuses on decolonising higher education, inclusive curricula, graduate employability and the relationship between assessment practices and social justice. She was awarded funding by the Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) to undertake a systematic review of decolonial initiatives in UK universities. She is currently leading a University of Birmingham-funded interdisciplinary project, Decolonising Graduate Attributes: Rethinking Assessment and Employability in Degree Programmes, bringing together academic and professional colleagues, students and alumni to examine graduate attributes and assessment across disciplines.
Jawiria has published in academic journals and edited collections, and her work has contributed to debates on decolonisation, inclusive curriculum design, graduate employability and belonging in higher education. She also contributes to sector-wide discussions through invited talks, conference presentations and knowledge-exchange activities. Since April 2026, she has been contributing as an expert consultant to an Advance HE-funded project developing the Interdisciplinary AI Competency Framework for Higher Education, with a focus on inclusive and ethically informed approaches to AI competency.
Alongside her research and teaching, Jawiria contributes to institutional leadership and educational enhancement at the University of Birmingham. She serves as EDB Co-Lead and Athena Swan Lead for the School of Education and leads the BASc Social Science programme within the School. Her work is underpinned by a commitment to social justice, decolonisation and inclusive educational practices that enhance student experience and address inequalities in higher education.