Dr Nilufer Demirkan-Jones

Biography

Nilufer is the Academic Lead for the Ready for Success Project with responsibility for the academic and educational development, delivery and evaluation of these courses. She also leads on the YUFE Life Long Learning work package. Nilufer is the former Head of Department (May 2016 - July 2022) and former Director of Education (October 2012 - April 2016 and August 2022 - July 2023). Since joining the Department in 2003, she has taught on a range of courses both at UG and PG levels. Her interest areas include Student Transitions into and through Higher Education, Teacher Education and Programme Design and Development. She is specifically interested in Quality Assurance in Education and Management of Educational Change. She has led on the expansion of portfolio of courses for UG pathways for Home and EU students and Essex Pathways Strategic Plan for Transitions, Progression and Retention (2019 - 2022). She has also worked together with colleagues on joint projects on teacher education and programme development. Nilufer is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Representing the University of Essex, Nilufer was the Project Manager for two EU funded Erasmus Plus collaborative projects with the Azerbaijan University of Languages (AUL); the first project aimed to reform aimed to reform (i) language teaching and teacher training; (ii) interpreting and translation studies in five universities as well as Baku Teacher Training Institute in Azerbaijan. The second project aimed to reform Foreign Languages Education for Professional Purposes in Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Other partners include universities from France, Sweden, Estonia, Italy and Germany and the University of Glasgow in the UK. External Examining duties: University of Hertfordshire, IFP (2013-2016); University of Glasgow, MSc / MEd TESOL, Online TEAP (2014 -2018); Cardiff Metropolitan University, MSc / MEd TESOL (2017 - 2021); Anglia Ruskin University, ARU College (2020-2024)

Qualifications

• PhD in English Linguistics

• MPhil in Language and Linguistics

• MA in Applied Linguistics

• BA in English Linguistics Hacettepe University,

Appointments

University of Essex

• Head of Department, Essex Pathways, University of Essex (1/5/2016 - 31/7/2022)

• Director of Education, Essex Pathways, University of Essex (1/10/2012 - 30/4/2016)

• Director of Education, Essex Pathways, University of Essex (1/8/2022 - 31/7/2023)

• Academic Lead, Ready for Success, Essex Pathways, University of Essex (1/8/2022 - present)