Amelia Harker (SFHEA, EdTA 3)

Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes & English Language for Widening Participation Coordinator

Biography

Background

I am a Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and the English Language for Widening Participation Coordinator at the University of Edinburgh (UoE).  I am also the current Research Officer for the BALEAP Special Interest Group - EAP for Social Justice. 

I have taught EAP since 2009 at the universities of Southampton, Durham, Aberdeen, Edinburgh Napier, and at the University of Edinburgh since 2015. My experience at leading UK universities demonstrates a commitment to learning and teaching, social justice and widening participation with research interests that include:  internationalisation, At Risk Scholar support, criticality in higher education, critical pedagogy, and EAP for Social Justice. My emerging expertise is in Refugee and Asylum Seeker support and Trauma Informed Practice.

I completed an MA in Sociology at the University of Aberdeen and then went on to teach in Spain before returning to Aberdeen to teach in the University’s English Language Centre. I also designed and delivered bespoke intercultural training provision for corporate teams in Aberdeen’s Hydrocarbon industry. Clients included: Total, Pemex, Amec, & Shell.  I have taught in Italy and Spain, and have written for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) while living in Latin America, Trinidad & Tobago, and Canada.  I returned to Edinburgh for my MSc TESOL which I completed at Moray House School of Education and Sport. Due to my Social Science background, I identify as a Sociologist who explores language, culture, and context with learners.

I now work within the Centre of Open Learning and across the university advising on English Language for Widening Participation, specialising in At Risk scholar support, and teaching Academic Language and Literacies. I also work with the public and the third sector, providing advice and communication channels between these communities and the university. My professional record relates macro-organisational policies and procedures to micro-operational outcomes in Higher Education. My ability to connect meaningfully with diverse groups is particularly useful for facilitating Scotland’s strategic objectives regarding higher education, inclusivity & diversity, internationalisation, and New Scots integration.

In 2023 I was Highly Commended by the College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) Community Impact Recognition Award

Qualifications

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

MSc TESOL (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 English 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 small projects I have undertaken:

  • 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

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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