Contact Details

Telephone

work +44 (0)1224 274659

Email

p.mtika@abdn.ac.uk

Web Links

https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=hLNZBIIAAAAJ&hl=en

Biography

I joined the University of Aberdeen in October 2008, initially as a Research Fellow in Education on the Scottish Teachers for a New Era (STNE) project. I was subsequently appointed as a Lecturer in 2011. I secured promotion to Senior Lecturer in August, 2018.

Before coming to Aberdeen, I spent time as Staff Associate and Lecturer in Education at the University of Malawi(2001-2004). I also taught at secondary level in Malawi (English and History) from 2000 to -2001.

I studied for my PhD at the University of Nottingham - Jubilee Campus - and graduated in July, 2008. My PhD research focused on: “Teaching practice as a component of teacher education: a socio-cultural activity theory”. I completed my MA in International Education (Teacher Education and Gender and Education) at the University of Sussex in 2003. I qualified as a secondary school teacher from the University of Malawi in 2000 (Bachelor Of Education - Humanities).

Research Interests

My main research interest is in the broad area of international education and development with a particular focus on teacher education for equity and social justice, educational inclusion, teacher learning and development, education and sustainable development.  

Current Research

Teacher education, Inclusion and Social Justice  

Teaching Practicum, Theory and Practice

Equitable Access to Education in Malawi and Ghana

Adult Literacies in Western Province - Rwanda

Educational inclusion in remote and rural parts of Cambodia

Collaborations

I am collaborating with colleagues at the University of Rwanda - College of Education, Three Teacher Training Colleges in Western Province (Rwanda) and Institute of Policy Analysis and Research (IPAR) in implementing an adult literacy project in Western Rwanda. The project is informed by a social practices approach to build the capacity of the Rwandan education sector to respond to the needs of adult learners. The project is funded by the Scottish Government (£1,191,795)(2017 - 2022).

Research Grants

(With Dr Jackie Ravet): Educational Inclusion Research and Development Scoping Exercise in Remote and Rural Battambang, Cambodia. This needs analysis will enable us to explore the potential for a future joint research project as a means to enhancing the quality of school experiences and outcomes for all children in Battambang, Cambodia £6,600 (Funded by the Scottish Funding Council). (2018 - 2019).

(With Prof Pamela Abbott and Dr Aileen Ackland): This project aims to address the identified challenges in adult literacy in Western Rwanda. The project is a collaboration with the University of Rwanda - College of Education, three teacher training colleges and Institute for Policy Analysis and Research. £1,191,795 (Funded by the Scottish Government) (2017 - 2022).

(PI) Evaluation of the Malawi M.Ed Primary Project within the Malawi Development Programme £7,500 (Funded by the University of Strathclyde) (2015 - 2017).

(PI/Researcher) Evaluation of the Bridge to Employment Project in Scotland (Livingston and Inverness Sites) £21,604 (Funded by the Academy for Educational Development) (2010 - 2011).

Teaching Responsibilities

Teaching

I teach on the following courses or programmes

• Sustainable international development
• Research methods 
• MA (Honours) 

PhD Supervision

Samuel Oppong-Frimpong An investigation into the quality of early childhood education provision in Ghana, through the use of interaction (Completed)(Co-supervor - Prof Donald Gray).

Maxwell Kwesi Nyatsikor Connecting the Ghanaian Primary School Teacher Characteristics to Pupil Achievement in National Educational Assessment (Completed)(Co-supervisor - Dr Dean Robson).

Arkangelo Mtipe Yambeni An investigation of how students’ achievement during entrance examinations correlates with their actual academic achievement in higher education in Malawi using Domasi College of Education as a case (Completed)(Co-supervisor - Dr Dean Robson).

Assel Zhakim Children’s learning in the home environment in Kazakhstan (On-going)(Co-supervisor - Dr Dean Robson).

Hadiza Koaru Shehu The effects of Household Characteristics on School Enrolment and Attendance in North-Western Part of Nigeria (On-going)(Co-supervisor - Dr Dean Robson).

Laura Puhalak Equality of First Year Experiences in Initial Teacher Education from a Capabilities Perspective (On-going)(Co-supervisor - Dr Dean Robson).

Maisara Maisara Bringing the world into classroom: teacher for global education in post-conflict and post-Tsunami Aceh (On-going) (Co-supervisor - Dr Elizabeth Curtis).

External Responsibilities

External Examiner

University of Rwanda, College of Education - Postgraduate programme (MSc)

Lilongwe University of Agricuture and Natural Resources - Postgraduate programme (MSc)

Research Grant Peer Reviewer

ESRC Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) (2016 - ongoing)

British Academy (2019 - ongoing)

Journal Manuscript Reviewer

Teaching and Teacher Education

International Journal of Educational Development

European Journal of Teacher Education

Africa Education Review

Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education

Cambridge Journal of Education

Higher Education

Membership of Professional and other bodies:

British Association of International and Comparative Education (BAICE)

Scotland - Malawi Partnership (SMP)

Admin Responsibilities

Course Coordinator

Sustainable International Development

CASS Ethics Committee

School of Education Ethics Officer

Research Excellence Framework (REF)

Research Outputs Lead

Publications 

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