Rowan Murray

Head of English Language for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Science and Engineering

Biography

Background

I am the Head of English Language for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Science and Engineering at English Language Education (ELE) in the Centre for Open Learning. In this role I am responsible for all of ELE's provision within the Colleges of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and Science and Engineering. I oversee Programme Partnerships across the two Colleges, managing academic language and literacies courses that are created in collaboration with Schools, contextualised to programme content, and embedded within School programmes. I also Course Organise and teach on a number of these courses.

In addition to programme partnerships, I have academic oversight of ELE's Academic Language and Literacies for In-sessional Studies courses for Taught students. These are self-select courses open to all students across the University regardless of language background. Our current suite of courses provide an opportunity for students to reflect upon and develop their academic writing skills, seminar and discussion skills, and intercultural communication skills.

I am also leading on the development of the Centre for Open Learning's STEM Foundations pathway, which will be launched in academic year 2026-27. This International Foundation Programme pathway will provide an access route for pre-undergraduate students hoping to study at the University of Edinburgh.

Before starting at The University of Edinburgh, I worked as a teacher of General English and English for Specific Academic Purposes in Java, Indonesia and then in a private language school in Edinburgh where I was the Deputy Academic Manager. My current research interests relate to Education and Social Justice and I have recently been exploring decolonisation of English for Academic Purposes, the development of graduate attributes through activism and the development of capabilities through self-directed learning.

 

Qualifications

Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Masters degree in Teaching English To Speakers of Other Languages

PhD in Education and Social Justice (ongoing)

Current research interests

I am currently researching the intersection between Decolonisation and English for Academic Purposes.

Past research interests

Murray, R. (2024). The Capability Approach, Pedagogic Rights and course design: Developing autonomy and reflection through student-led individually created courses’, Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 25(1), 131–150. https://doi.org/10.1080/19452829.2023.2261856

Papers delivered

Murray, R (2023)."Indoctrinate or disrupt? EAP practitioner perceptions of and engagement with decolonisation of the field". Presented at BALEAP Bi-annual Conference, University of Warwick.

Murray, R. (2023). "Decolonisation of English for Academic Purposes". FAHSS Decolonising Education Research and Theory roundtable, Lancaster University.

Murray, R. (2021). "Identifying and addressing evidence of neo-colonialism in course curricula". Presented at The University of Edinburgh Learning and Teaching Conference: Curriculum as a Site for Transformation.

Jones, H., Murray, R, & McIldowie, P. (2020) "Academic Language in the Future Curriculum: Partnering with the Disciplines". Presented at The University of Edinburgh Learning and Teaching Conference: Curriculum Futures. 

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