Dr Abdulla Sodiq

About

I am a Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Derby, UK, and an educational governance researcher. My main role includes teaching on the university's Education Studies programme and supervising doctoral students on education-related projects. I have previously worked as a lecturer/adviser in educational assessment at King's College London, UK and I am also a founding director at Maldives Research, registered in the UK and the Maldives.

I am interested in researching educators' status in educational governance, educational assessments and the UN's Sustainable Development Goal number 4 (SDG4), Education. My research methodologies consist of combined methods, qualitative research including action research, case studies and discourse analysis of spoken and written communications in educational governance, educational assessments and educational practice in a variety of settings.

After completing 19 years or so of English Language teaching in the further education sector, I moved my career to the HE sector in 2019, where I have gained experience in:

supporting and supervising doctoral students
supporting staff in assessment and pedagogy
teaching and leading modules in Education Studies
conducting international and national research in education
reviewing UK Research Council (ESRC) bids proposing to explore contemporary issues in education.

Profile summary

Senior Fellow of Advanced-HE (UK)
Post-16 lecturing and research in the UK and the Maldives, with teaching experience since 1998
experience in designing research bid proposals and implementing education and multidisciplinary research projects
research interests in educational assessment and governance
experienced in skills training and mentoring PhDs and experienced academics
delivering education through technology since 2001
UK Charity Trusteeship; Company Directorship since 2008
school governorship experience in the UK

Teaching responsibilities

BA (Hons) Education Studies

International/Comparative Education
Sociology of Education and
Education in Contexts (Student Placements)

Postgraduate Research Supervision areas

educational governance and leadership (2 doctoral completions and current)
pedagogy (current and 1 MA completion)
digital technology in education (current)

Professional interests

Educational governance and leadership
Education's role in producing democratic and moral societies
digital technology in learning and teaching
educational assessments

Research interests

Governance of educational institutions in the UK, the Maldives and globally
Digital technology in education
Educational assessments
Pedagogy (Post-16)

Membership of professional bodies

British Educational Leadership Management and Administration Society (Co-convenor for 2 Research Interest Groups):

Governance and Governing
Post-16 leadership

Qualifications

Doctor of Education (Edu. Leadership and Governance), Warwick University, 2017
MA in Applied Linguistics & TESOL, Leicester University, 2005
Advanced Teaching Certificate in TESOL, University of Leicester, 2002
BA in English Language Teaching, Stirling University, 1997
Open Studies Cert. in Post Compulsory Education and Training, Warwick University, 2007
Cambridge Certificate of Teaching English Language (CELTA), Wigston College, 1998

Recent conferences

Sodiq, A. (08 July 2022), Academic Staff as a Resource in Educational Governance, (Conference paper/blog) The 12th Festival of Education (2022), Wellington College / Pearson.
Sodiq, A. (05/7/22), “Pedagogical hope: decolonising seminar discussions on slavery”, (Conference paper & blog) CSPACE Conference 2022: Hopeful Matters: A 1000 Little Fires, BCU.
Di Biase, R., Sodiq, A. (2021) “Revisiting, reassessing and reimaging the examination system in the Maldives”. In Conference Abstract: AARE2021Conference: Reimagining Education Research, Australian Education Research Association (hybrid) Melbourne, Australia, 28 Nov-2 Dec 2021.
Di Biase, R., Sodiq, A. Cassity, E. & Chand, S. (2021) “Examination Systems in Small States: Exploring National, Regional and External Models (Panel Discussion)”. In Conference Programme: OCIES 49th Conference 2021: Strengthening, Expanding & Reimagining Connections for & through, Education, OCIES (hybrid) Fiji, Melbourne, Waikato, 1-2/12/21.
Sodiq, A. (2021) Keynote Speech: ‘Opportunities for Reimagining Public Systems Using Social Science Research (Conference Abstract)” In: Book of Abstracts of the International Conference on Social Research and Innovation, Building Back Better - A Resilient Future For All; Nov 2021.
Sodiq, A. (07 June 2021), Joint-Up University Services in Seminar Teaching During the Lockdown, (Conference paper/blog) BCU CSPACE Conference, Birmingham.
Sodiq, A. 07/07/2017, Academic Staff Governor Roles, Power and Professional Status in FE Colleges, BELMAS Conference Paper, Funder: Warwick University

Experience in industry

Secondary School Governor, Redmoor Academy, UK, 2021-2025
Research ethics committee (King's College London, 2023-24, and Birmingham City University, 2021-2023)
Doctoral External Examiner (Education), University of Southampton, 2021
Director and founding member, Maldives Research (UK and the Maldives), since 1998
Visiting Lecturer (University of Wales TSD, UK and Zikura College, Maldives), since 2024
Further education lecturer, teaching English (EFL, EAP and ESOL), 1998-2019 - includes 2 years in the Maldives

International experience

International Research Experience

Research Project Co-ordinator (Voluntary), Maldives Research, Project: Improving Healthcare in Maldives: Stakeholder Perspectives, Maldives, 2020
Research Project Co-ordinator (Voluntary), Maldives Research, Project: Improving Education in Maldives: Stakeholder Perspectives, 2012
Academic Co-ordinator, Go-Teach Project, Maldivian Students’ Association (UK), 2007
Project member, Higher Education Awareness Programme in the Maldives, Maldivian Students’ Association (UK), 1995

International work experience

A-Level college English Language teacher
- Cambridge Proficiency in English and Cambridge First Certificate in English, Science Education Centre, Maldives, Jan 1999 - Dec 2000
Office Secretary, Ministry of Education, 1991-1993

Additional interests and activities

travelling
volunteering and charitable activities
sports

In the media

As Research Lead in the Maldives Health Forum (Stakeholder perspectives in the Northern Region), introducing the Discussion Panel of Research findings over 5 TV episodes, Villa TV, Maldives
In the Media: Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce (09/12/2021), “Research examines role of teachers and lecturers in education governance”

Recent publications

Research Articles, Podcasts, Blogs and Other Outputs

Bouakaz, L., Sodiq, A., & Albustami, G. (2026). Navigating the Insider-Outsider Divide: A Phenomenological Inquiry into the Ethical Encounters of an Action Researcher Bridging Immigrant Families and Schools. Journal of Culture and Values in Education, 9(1), 140-160. https://doi.org/10.46303/jcve.2026.7
Sodiq, A., & Pearson, J. (2024). Can GAI tools help with marking and feedback? FutureLearn and King’s College London.
Sodiq, A. (2024) “Reflections: Research IMPACT from an Educational Governance Project”, (invited presentation), PERG seminar - education leadership research and impact, Practitioner Education Research Group (PERG), CSPACE, (19/06/2024) Birmingham City University
Sodiq, A. (01 Sep 2023), “E-EDGE series: Academic Staff Governors’ Professional Capital in Educational Governance.”, (Research Blog) CSPACE, E-EDGE Series, Birmingham: BCU / BELMAS
Sodiq, A., Di Biase, R. “We cannot do away with exams: Parents believe in them, so does the wider community”. Reimagining the examination system in the Maldives. Prospects 51, 701–719 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11125-022-09613-w
Sodiq, A. (2022) “Academic staff governors’ power and professional status in the governance of further education colleges in England.” Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 27(1), pp. 98-127.
Sodiq, A. (05 June 2022), “E-EDGE series: The Birmingham Project and the Context of Academic Staff In Educational Governance.”, (Research Blog) CSPACE, E-EDGE Series, Birmingham: BCU / BELMAS
Sodiq, A., BELMAS. (16/3/22): “Governance & Governing Research Group Invited Podcast with Dr. A. S.”
Afaal, A., Sodiq, A., Shafiu, A., Mihdha, A., Niyaz, A., Niyaf, M., Naaz, A., Saeed, S., Rafiu, A. Shiyam, I., & Saleem, Thoha (2022) Report: Health Forum 2020: Improving Health Services in the Maldives: Stakeholder Perspectives on the Maldivian Health Sector – the North Region (online PDF), UK: Maldives Research.
Sodiq, A. & Abbott, Ian (2018) Reimagining Academic Staff Governors’ Role in FE College Governance, Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 23(1), 138-157,
Shiuna, M. & Sodiq, A. (2013) Improving Education in the Maldives: Stakeholder Perspectives on the Maldivian Education Sector. International Journal of Small Economies, 4(1), 23-38. Ilkley, UK.
Sodiq, A. 2012. The Composition of Governing Bodies: a Case Study of a College in England. Warwick Archive Portal. Non-Peer Reviewed Research Paper. Coventry. Warwick University