Ms Kashmir Kaur (SFHEA)

Profile

I am an experienced educator and academic leader in English for Academic Purposes (EAP), based at the University of Leeds. My work spans teaching, scholarship and leadership within the Language Centre and across the wider university, with a focus on transnational education and English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI).

I’ve received multiple awards for innovative teaching and excellence in feedback and I’m committed to transforming educational experiences through inclusive, research-informed practice. My international work includes a long-standing partnership with South-West Jiaotong University in Chengdu.

My scholarship explores student identity, internationalisation and critical pedagogies in EAP - particularly dialogic feedback, self-directed learning and decolonising education. I lead and develop a wide range of academic English programmes, including specialist courses for Earth & Environment and the Institute for Transport.

Beyond teaching, I have contributed to faculty initiatives including Athena Swan (PGR Group Lead), the Decolonising Student Education Working Group and served as Staff Sustainability Architect for the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies. Currently, I’m a member of the faculty’s Communities of Practice and I also mentor colleagues through the university’s mentoring scheme.

Previously, I taught at Durham University and with the British Council in Beirut, where I developed EMI training for local educators. My career began in broadcasting, where I worked in media production, with a focus on documentaries and factual content.

Responsibilities

• In-sessional Lead for School of Earth and Environment and Institute of Transport
• Programme Director of Foreign Language Assistants' Language Course

Research interests

My research interests in education are varied. They intersect student identity and engagement, internationalisation including aspects such as Critical EAP, ‘criticality’ in higher education, dialogic feedback, self-directed learning and ‘decolonising' student education.

Publications

• Kaur, K. 2025. Reimagining Language Education Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures News: Peadagogical Research in the Arts (PRiA) Blog. May.
• Winiarska-Pringle, I., Muir, C., Kaur, K. and Watson, L. 2025. Reading groups as spaces of learning and resistance: Care, emotions and feminism in EAP. BALEAP Journal of Research and Practice. 1(1). pp. 175-198. Available from: https://journals.warwick.ac.uk/index.php/baleap/issue/view/114
• Kaur, K., Ravi, M., Wright, C., Bawn, M. and Cutillo, L. 2024. AI in Higher Education: Nuanced Understandings of Competence, Ethics and Equity. ICERI2024 Proceedings 17th annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation, Seville, Spain. 11-13 November, 2024. pp.6767-6775. doi: 10.21125/iceri.2024
• Ravi, M., Kaur, K, Bawn, M., Cutillo, L. and Wright C. 2024. Artificial Intelligence in higher education: A perfect storm. In Abegglen, S., Nerantzi, C., Martinez-Arboleda, A., Karatsiori, M., Atenas, J. and Rowell, C. eds. Towards AI Literacy: 101+ Creative and Critical Practices, Perspectives and Purposes, pp 24-27. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11613520
• Fedorova, N. and Kaur, K. 2024. Critical EAP: A marginalised friend? In: Breen, P. and le Roux, M. eds. Social Justice in EAP and ELT Contexts. London: Bloomsbury Academic, pp.57-71.
• Kaur, K. 2023. Deliberations about Decolonisation. Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures News: Peadagogical Research in the Arts (PRiA) Blog. March.
• Kaur, K. 2023. Communities, Sense of Belonging and Friendships. Centre for Excellence in Language Teaching (CELT) Blog. March.
• Kaur, K. 2022. Embed sustainability in the curriculum: transform the world. Language Learning in Higher Education: Journal of European Confederation of Language Centres in Higher Education (CerclesS). 12(2), pp.605-616.
• Fedorova, N. and Kaur, K. 2022. Native-speakerism: A thorn in the side of ELT. Journal of Second Language Teaching & Research. 9(1), pp.59-80.
• Kaur, K. 2020. ‘Worst of times or best of times? You decide.’ Centre for Excellence in Language Teaching (CELT) Blog. July.
• Kaur, K. 2020. 'Wrestling with Criticality'. Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence (LITE) Blog. April.
• Kaur, K. 2019. ‘Crossing borders…shifting sands: An investigation of Chinese students’ study experiences in UK and in China’. Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching, Special issue: Border Crossing in Language Education, 9:3, 451–472. DOI.
• Kaur, K. 2019. ‘Enhancing International Students’ Experience and Formative Feedback through Audio Feedback’ for The Language Scholar Journal.
• Kaur, K. 2017. 'Full Steam Ahead At BALEAP': A Review of the BALEAP Bristol 2017 Conference, 7–9 April, The Leeds Language Scholar Journal.
• Kaur, K. 2013. Developing Environmental Perspectives Through Self-Directed Learning, Student Education Bulletin, Issue 8, 8–9.
• Kaur, K. 2013. Qualitative Research in Language Education: Report on a Workshop by David Nunan, ELT Research, Issue 28, 31–32.

Conference and Symposium Talks

• Kaur, K. 2025. Revitalising Critical English for Academic Purposes in the EAP Landscape: A contemporary snapshot. Association of American Applied Linguists Conference 2025, 22-24 March, Denver, USA..
• Kaur, K. and Ravi, M. 2024. AI in Higher Education: Nuanced Understandings of Competence, Ethics and Equity.17th Annual International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation: ‘Transforming Education, Transforming Lives’, 11-13 November, Seville, Spain.
• Kaur, K. and Ravi, M. 2024. A Unified Languages Blueprint: Fostering Ethical and Inclusive AI Practices in Higher Education. Advance HE Conference: ‘Teaching and Learning Conference: Future Focused Education: Innovation, Inclusion and Impact’, 1-4 July, Nottingham Trent University.
• Ravi, M., Kaur, K. and Bawn, M. 2024. Building Artificial Intelligence Based Education Languages (BAIBEL) Project: Taking a people-centric approach to identifying shared and divergent opinions on AI terminology. Leeds Digital Summit: ‘AI and Me’, 24-25 June, University of Leeds.
• Kaur, K. 2024. Student Perspectives on Native-Speakerism in Cross-Border Education. Georgetown University Round Table (GURT): ‘Education Abroad: Language, Learners and Communities’, 1-3 March, Georgetown University, Washington D.C., USA.
• Kaur, K and Fedorova, N. 2023. Cross border student attitudes towards native-speakerism. Symposium: ‘Questioning Language Teaching Orthodoxy in Higher Education’, 28 June, University of Leeds.
• Skipp, J. and Kaur, K. 2023. Shifting the focus from disciplinary EAP: the case for interdisciplinarity. BALEAP Conference: ‘Caution! EAP under Deconstruction’, 19-21 April, University of Warwick.
• Kaur, K. and Fedorova, N. 2022. Constructing Communities Within and Beyond Borders. SoTL Conference: ’Building Communities through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning’, 15-17 June, Manchester Metropolitan University.
• Kaur, K and Skipp, J. 2022. Making Space to Foster Interdisciplinarity in EAP. Norwegian Forum for English for Academic Purposes Conference: ‘Beginnings’, 9-10 June, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway.
• Kaur, K. and Al Arefi, S. 2022. Navigating Interdisciplinarity through a Sustainability Lens. Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching Conference: Mapping Interdisciplinarity: Finding our way, 7 April, University of Birmingham.
• Kaur, K. and Al Arefi, S. 2022. Sustainability: Welcome into the fold. Advance HE’s Sustainability Symposium: ‘Front, Centre and Now: Sustainability as a Core Purpose of Higher Education’, 29–30 March, Virtual.
• Kaur, K. and Alimalayeri, R. 2022. Building Bonds: Constructing Communities. Student Education Conference: ‘Belonging and Community’, 6–7 January. University of Leeds.
• Kaur, K. 2021. Reflections of Critical EAP in the Mainstream Curriculum. Language Education for Social Justice Virtual Conference, 1–3 June, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
• Kaur, K. 2020. Criticality? Critical Thinking? As you like it? Academic English Conference, 27–29 October, Cambridge University Press.
• Kaur, K. 2020. Wrestling with Criticality in Teaching and Student Learning. EAP Conference: ‘Anybody out there: addressing audiences in academic discourse’, 29 February, St Andrews University.
• Kaur, K. and Liu, J. 2020. Blended approaches to embedding criticality for student success. Student Education Conference: ‘Student Success’, 6–7 January, University of Leeds.
• Kaur, K. 2019. Critical EAP in action: from experiment to mainstream. BALEAP Conference: ‘Innovation, Exploration and Transformation’, 12–14 April, University of Leeds.
• Kaur, K. and Fedorova, N. 2019. Convened the Criticality Symposium Questioning Criticality: What is Criticality in Higher Education? 19 December, University of Leeds.
• Kaur, K. 2019. Embedding ‘criticality’ as a blended approach in mainstream study to promote student success. Questioning Criticality: What is Criticality in Higher Education? Symposium,19 December, University of Leeds.
• Kaur, K. 2018. Crossing Borders…Shifting Sands: Investigation of Chinese students’ study experiences in Leeds and in Chengdu. EAP and Internationalisation: Building links between institutions and learning cultures Symposium,1 November, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China.
• Kaur, K. 2017. Crossing borders...shifting sands: An investigation of Chinese students' study experiences in Leeds and in Chengdu. Language Education Across Borders Conference, 8–10 December, University of Graz, Austria.
• Kaur, K. 2017. Enhancing International Student Experience Through Audio Formative Feedback'. INFORM Conference: ‘Innovative Ideas for Enhanced Student Engagement’, 15 July, University of Reading.
• Kaur, K. and Leslie, A. 2013. Critical Engagement Through Global Citizenship. Student Education Conference, 6–7 January, University of Leeds.
• Kaur, K. 2011. How do students’ writing skills compare when working alone and when working collaboratively? English Language Connections Conference, 20–21 May, Leeds Metropolitan University.
• Kaur, K., Parkin, M., Poole, J. and Poulson, C. 2011. One Size Fits All. Poster Presentation BALEAP Professional Issues Meeting: ‘How Low Can We Go: Issues, Insights and Innovations’, 12 February, University of Bristol.

Workshops/Seminars

• Kaur, K. 2025. Deconstructing the AI Lexicon: Competence, Ethics and Equity. The Language Centre Forum, 26 February, University of Leeds.
• Kaur, K. 2022. Dialogic Feedback: What’s your take on feedback? Online Teaching in School of Languages Cultures and Societies – ‘Conversation’, 19 January, University of Leeds.
• Kaur, K. 2018. Enhancing student engagement through audio formative feedback. School of Languages, Cultures and Societies’ Digital Showcase, 7 November, University of Leeds.
• Kaur, K. 2018. Effective Formative Feedback through Audio. English Language Teaching Centre, Teacher Development Training Day, 12 January, University of Sheffield.
• Kaur, K. and Freeman, K. 2017. Criticality in EAP. Workshop. 14 December. Universidad Europea de Madrid, Spain.
• Kaur, K. 2017. Enhancing International Student Experience Through Audio Formative Feedback. Workshop: Enhancing Learning and Teaching through Effective Feedback, School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, 12 December, University of Leeds.
• Kaur, K. and Brajkovic, I. 2017. Enhancing international students’ engagement through audio formative feedback and student collaboration. Pecha Kucha, Language Scholar Journal Launch, School of Languages, Cultures and Societies’ Scholarship Showcase, 16 May, University of Leeds.

Awards

• April 2024 – Awarded the University of Leeds Partnership Award for Feedback and Assessment: ‘This category recognises commitment to students by a member of staff...who provide students with an excellent experience in assessment and feedback.’
• April 2024 – Shortlisted for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures ‘Feedback and Assessment’ Leeds Partnership Awards.
• May 2023 – Awarded the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures University of Leeds Partnership Award for Feedback and Assessment. ‘This category recognises commitment to students by a member of staff...who provide students with an excellent experience in assessment and feedback.’
• April 2022 – Awarded the Cross-Institutional University of Leeds Partnership Award for Feedback and Assessment. ‘This category recognises commitment to students by a member of staff...who provide students with an excellent experience in assessment and feedback.’
• May 2021 – Awarded the University of Leeds Partnership Award for Feedback. This award recognises “The person who provides invaluable and supportive academic feedback in both content and delivery method, which helps others to develop and excel in their work.”
• April 2020 – Received the Mentoring award at the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures Partnership Awards. This recognises “The person’s guidance and support has encouraged and nurtured others to develop their skills and prospects for the future, helping them to grow and progress, either personally or in their learning.”
• June 2019 – Was the ‘runner up’ in the ‘Building Knowledge and Capacity’ category at the University of Leeds Sustainability Awards. This was for the successful development and delivery of the ‘Language in Context – Sustainability Module’.
• April 2018 - Received the Innovation award at the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures Partnership Awards. This recognises "The person or group who uses innovative methods and approaches to engage and excite others; such as through embracing new learning technology or through presenting challenging ideas in a way to spark discussion to further the understanding of a subject area."
• June 2017 - Shortlisted for the University of Leeds Sustainability Awards in the category of 'Building Knowledge and Capacity’. This was for introducing, developing and producing a bank of authentic audio/visual listening materials on the concept of sustainability, primarily to be utilised in the English module of the University of Leeds Engineering degrees at the South West Jiaotong University - Leeds Joint School in Chengdu.
• May 2012 - Won a scholarship to attend David Nunan’s ‘Qualitative Research in Language Education’ Workshop at the University of Graz, Austria.

Qualifications

• MA Race & Resistance (History) (University of Leeds)
• MA Linguistics & English Language Teaching (University of Leeds)
• PGCE Post Compulsory Education & Training (University of Leeds)
• Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy

Professional memberships

• British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (BALEAP)
• International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL)
• British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL)

Student education

My teaching is grounded in inclusive, research-led practice, with a strong emphasis on dialogic feedback, student agency and fostering critical engagement in academic contexts. I lead and develop a range of Academic English modules, from postgraduate writing support to interdisciplinary in-sessional programmes. These include bespoke provision for the School of Earth and Environment and the Institute for Transport, as well as thematic modules such as Language in Context: Sustainability. I am particularly interested in approaches that support self-directed learning, criticality and decolonising the curriculum, ensuring students are engaged as active participants in their own academic development.

Research groups and institutes

• Language Centre
• PRIA