Amelia Harker (SFHEA, EdTA 3)

Lecturer - Senior Fellow - Widening Participation Coordinator - Social Justice Research Officer

Biography

Background

I am an intercultural communication specialist and Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) at the University of Edinburgh, where I also serve as English Language for Widening Participation Coordinator. Since 2009, I have taught across Russell Group universities—including Southampton, Durham, and Edinburgh - developing expertise in academic communication, social justice, and sector-wide educational development. I currently act as Research Officer for the BALEAP EAP for Social Justice Special Interest Group (SIG).

My current work focuses on the human impact of AI-driven transformations, with specific interests in resilience, performance, leadership, and culture change. Across public, private, and third sectors, I connect macro-level policy with micro-level operational outcomes, aligning institutional values with meaningful practice and fostering collaborative, multi-stakeholder approaches to educational development.

I have lead initiatives supporting refugee-background learners and Trauma Informed Practice (TIP), contributing to activity aligned with UNHCR, UNESCO, and UNSDG priorities. This work was highly commended through the University of Edinburgh’s Community Impact Award, and I have collaborated with the Scottish Government, Education Beyond Borders, and the Council for At-Risk Academics.

My career spans teaching and research roles in the UK, Spain, Italy, Latin America, Trinidad & Tobago, and Canada, alongside corporate intercultural training for clients such as Total, Pemex, Amec, and Shell. Trained in Sociology (MA, Aberdeen) and International Higher Education (MSc, Edinburgh), I approach education through a sociological lens that foregrounds culture, context, equity, and excellence.

I am currently part of the Edinburgh Leader Programme, further developing authentic, inclusive, and courageous leadership within higher education and beyond.

 

Qualifications

Edinburgh Leader Programme: the skills and behaviours required of a strategic leader. 

Senior Fellowship Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) Edinburgh Teaching Award (EdTA Level 3)    

MSc International Higher Education (Scholarship gained & MSc achieved with Distinction) - The University of Edinburgh                        

MA Hons Sociology (2:1) - The University of Aberdeen                                                                                                   

Advanced Spanish for foreign learners (A) - The University of Seville, Spain                                                                                                                    

Interlingua Teaching Certification (Achieved with Merit), Interlingua Centre of Rome                 

HNC Social Science - North East Scotland College                                                                                                      

Postgraduate teaching

English Language Teaching Fellow- The University of Edinburgh                                                                        2020- Present

Courses:

  • Sanctuary English Language Provision Course Organiser

*This was creative new outreach provision, which received excellent feedback from over 400 students.

  • English for University Study Course Organiser

*This innovative new provision involved collaboration with third sector specialists in digital learning technologies to enhance our course, thereafter opening access to this offer to diverse groups locally and globally.

  • Intercultural Communication Skills (ICS) (SQA Level 7-11) 
  • Post Graduate Preparatory English Programme (PGPEP) - Academic Development and Reflection (ADR) (SQA Level 10) 
  • General English Language Pre-sessional Phase 1 (SQA Level 10)
  • Post Graduate Preparatory English Programme (PGPEP)- Study Skills and Reflection (SSR) (SQA Level 10)
  • Academic Writing for In-Sessional Study (AWIS) (SQA Level 11)
  • Academic Language & Literacies for Postgraduate Professional Law Programmes (ALL-PPLP) (SQA Level 11)
  • Academic Writing for Social and Political Sciences (SPS) (SQA Level 11)

 

English for Academic Purposes Tutor - The University of Edinburgh                                                                          2015-2020

Courses:

  • English Language Teaching for Education Masters (ELTEM) Pre-sessional Phase 2 (SQA Level 10) Course Organiser
  • Academic Listening and Speaking (SQA Level 10) Course Organiser
  • Seminar & Discussion Skills (SDS) (SQA Level 11) Course Organiser
  • General English Language Pre-sessional Phase 1 (SQA Level 10)
  • Academic English for Visiting Students (AEVS 2) (SQA Level 10)
  • Academic Writing for Education (AWE) (SQA Level 11)
  • CMVM Scientific Academic Writing (SAW) (SQA Level 11)
  • Dissertation Writing for Moray House School of Education and Sport (SQA Level 11)
  • PhD Writing the First Year Report (WFYR) (SQA Level 12)

Research summary

Harker, A. pending. English Language for Widening Participation: Sanctuary Initiatives for Displaced Persons in Higher Education.

Harker, A. Pershina, E. & Rossi, A. 2017. Building a dedicated module for critical thinking. Edinburgh International College, Edinburgh Napier University. https://learningandteachingnavitas.com/building-dedicated-module-critical-thinking/ Harker nee

Nash, A. 2016. Intercultural learning in modern language education: expanding meaning making potentials. Language and Intercultural Communication, 17:1, 81- 83, DOI:10.1080/14708477.2016.1201917

Current research interests

1. At Risk Scholar narrative research regarding university scholarships (supporting Education Beyond Boarders). 2. At Risk Scholar support re Trauma Informed Practice in EAP units and beyond. 3. Trauma Informed Practice training and institutional support for higher education staff. 4. Higher Education collaboration with NGOs and Charities regarding At Risk Scholars partcipation (CARA). 5. Embedded Academic Language and Literacies as Widening Participation activity. 6. Digital Learning Platforms and Open Access materials: How universities can help (EAP for Social Justice Case studies). 7. Access and pathways for At Risk scholars at the University of Edinburgh.

Past research interests

1. Internationalisation in Higher Education: Facilitating the construction of internationalised universities 2. Decolonisation of the Curriculum: student insights 3. Community Engagement via Participant Action Research 3. Enabling Student Voice via hospitable classroom practices 4. Cultural Transitions, exploration and recommendations 5. Reconstructing stigmatised identities: addicts re-entering society post rehabilitation 6. Criticality in Academic Discourse: student insights 7. Wellbeing for Businesses and Organisations

Knowledge exchange

  1. Given training to the Scottish Government regarding ESOL for Refugee Background People.
  2. Member of RefugEAP network, collating information and best practice in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) to share across Higher Ed sector regarding Academic Language and Literacies for At-Risk scholars.
  3. Provided Trauma Informed Practice training to third sector charities working with At-Risk communities. 
  4. Collaborated with third sector (Mosaic) regarding open access materials in line with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Connected Learning in Crisis Consortium (CLCC) who have been directly consulted on this activity.

Project activity

Themes of projects I have undertaken:

  • Sector partnerships which enable At-Risk academics and scholars to attend higher education in line with UNHCR and University of Sanctuary goals.
  • Internationalisation in Higher Education: Facilitating the construction of internationalised universities.
  • Decolonisation of the Curriculum: student insights.
  • Community Engagement via Participant Action Research.
  • Enabling Student Voice via hospitable classroom practices.
  • Cultural Transitions, exploration and recommendations.
  • Reconstructing stigmatised identities: addicts re-entering society post rehabilitation.
  • Criticality in Academic Discourse: student insights.
  • Wellbeing for Businesses and Organisations.

Invited speaker

I was invited by the Scottish Government's Refugee Alliance Network to offer insights into ESOL provision for At Risk communities in Scotland and I reviewed elements of the New Scots integration strategy regarding English Language teaching. 

Papers delivered

BALEAP PIM. Nov 2025, hosted by the University of Edinburgh.

  • Theme: Community, Identity & Belonging.
  • Building Inclusive Academic Communities: A Collaborative Approach to Language Testing for Students from Displaced Backgrounds.
  • This 3-part narrative explained how education providers with distinct identities collaborated to meet the needs of people seeking sanctuary. We outlined the issues faced for applicants in regards to testing in fragile environments, the activity that occurred within UoE to find inclusive and scalable solutions that are robust and sustainable. Core themes and these were related to our sector partnerships which enable At-Risk academics and scholars to attend higher education in line with UNHCR and University of Sanctuary goals.

The Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL)/Standing Conference of University Teaching and Research in the Education of Adults (SCUTREA) June 2023, hosted by the University of Cambridge.

  • Theme: Global Citizenship & Lifelong Learning Conference,
  • At Risk scholar support at UoE ranging from work with the Council for At Risk Academics (CARA), outreach in the community, in-sessional support for matriculated post graduate students, Trauma Informed Pedagogy, achieving the UNHCR goals, the UoE Widening Participation strategy, and fundamentally, Social Justice via English Language Education.

The UoE Learning and Teaching Conference. June 2023, hosted by the University of Edinburgh.

  • Various strands of At-Risk Scholar support at UoE.

The Association of Universities Language Communities (AULC) April 2023, hosted by the University of Edinburgh.

  • Sanctuary English Language initiatives at UoE.

The Universities of Sanctuary Conference Jan 2023, hosted by the University of Edinburgh.

  • Developing English language pathways for refugee background students seeking to access and thrive on university degree programmes.                                           

The Leeds Criticality Symposium. Nov 2019, hosted by the University of Leeds.

  • The Critical Review: concept, context and purpose.

The International Higher Education Teaching and Learning (HETL) Conference. June 2017, hosted by the University of Glasgow.

  • Facilitating the Construction of Internationalised Universities.
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