Dr. Abdulla Sodiq (EdD, MA, BA, Cert. Ed) 19 years of Continuous Service in Education Director of Maldives Research Contact Details E-mail: a.sodiq@warwick.ac.uk; abdulla.sodiq@maldivesresearch.org Published Research Papers Shiuna, M. and Sodiq, A. (2013) Improving Education in the Maldives: Stakeholder Perspectives on the Maldivian Education Sector. International Journal of Small Economies, 4(1), 23-38. Peer Reviewed Research Paper. Ilkley, UK: Maldives Research Available: http://ijse.maldivesresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ijse-issue-4-shiuna-sodiq-2013-education-forum- Maldives.pdf Sodiq, Abdulla. 2012. The Composition of Governing Bodies: a Case Study of a College in England. Warwick Research Archive Portal. Non-Peer Reviewed Research Paper. Coventry. University of Warwick. Available: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/49208/ Accepted Peer-Reviewed Academic Papers and Conference Papers Sodiq, A and Abbott, Ian (2017); Academic Staff Governors in Education Governing Bodies, Research in Post-Compulsory Education and Training, ARPCE, UK (Accepted June 2017). Sodiq, A, 2017, BELMAS Annual Conference Presentation (Abstract Accepted: 8/3/2017), Academic Staff Governors in Further Education College Governing Bodies, 07 July 2017, British Educational Leadership, management and Administration Society, UK; Secured Funding 388.00 from University of Warwick. Other Research Activity: Proposal in Progress: New Investigator Research Grant (ESRC): Higher Secondary Education in High Poverty Regions in the Maldives within the UN s Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Education) Agenda (2018-2020); Research team consists of colleagues at the University of Warwick, Deakin University, Maldives National University and Islamic University of Maldives. Shortlisted in the Early Career Researcher (ECR) in ESRC funded project proposal for the Maldives; proposal focussing on sustainability issues with an interdisciplinary perspective submitted in Jan 2017 (ESRC-DFID Joint Fund for Poverty Alleviation Research Development Frontiers Research Fund 2016-17): Role: key leadership role in project design and delivery and for development of research networks and avenues for exploitation for maximum impact; capacity and capability enhancement of Maldivian researchers; jointly co-ordinate project activities with Greenwich University, Maldivian National University and Maldives Research Grant: ECR element 18,000; Total project: 258,000) Conference / Seminar Presentations Seminar Presentation: 11/1/2017, Academic Staff Governor Roles in Further Education: Role Model and Framework, Centre for Education Studies, University of Warwick Conference Presentation: 26/11/2016, Academic Staff Governors in High performing Further Education College Governing Bodies, Doctoral Research Conference, School of Education, University of Birmingham, UK Seminar Presentation: 13/10/2016, Café Research, University of Warwick Seminar Presentation: 13/06/2012, Café Scientifique, University of Warwick Conference Presentation: 10/06/2012, Kaleidoscope Conference, Institute of Education, University of Cambridge, UK
Seminar Presentation: 16/3/2012, Governance Research Interest Group, BELMAS, Institute of Education, UCL, London Symposium Presentation: 29/2/2012: Centre for Education Studies, University of Warwick Relevant and Significant Professional Experience 2017-2019: Member of the ESRC (UK) Reviewer Group and Grant Assessment Panel 2017 Since 1998: English Language teaching, various institutions, Maldives and the UK 2017: Member of the Annual Postgraduate Research Conference organising Committee, CES, University of Warwick 2012: Project Co-ordinator, Maldives Research, Project: Improving Education in the Maldives: Stakeholder Perspectives, Male, The Maldives. budgeting the project; successfully securing funding from Maldivian businesses; identifying and securing of target participants; dissemination of findings; Total Project Funding 3,045.00 2008-2010: Advanced Practitioner (CPD mentor), City College Coventry, delivering and reviewing staff development activities; lesson observations (developmental and graded) 2008: Participant in the organising team of the Go-Teach Project in the Maldives, Maldivian Students Association (UK), guiding participants based on previous experience. 2007: Academic Co-ordinator of the Go-Teach Project in the Maldives, Maldivian Students Association (UK), producing the curriculum and staffing the teaching programme 2006-2010: Staff Trainings Delivered: o Recording CPD for teachers (2008-2010) o Differentiation in Teaching and Learning (2008-2010) o Podcasting in TESOL, Dec 06, ESOL Department, City College Coventry o Embedded Learning: ESOL in ICT, Jan 07, ESOL Department, City College Coventry o ILT in ESOL: VLE (Web-CT) in ESOL, Jul 06, ESOL Department, City College Coventry 2006: Active Participant in LLC sponsored project: Web-CT in ESOL, City College Coventry 2000: Superintendent of University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) Examinations (English Language) and EDEXCEL s (London) GCE A Level Exams, 1995: Project team member, Higher Education Awareness Programme (HEAP 95) conducted by Maldivian Students Association (UK), in the Maldives - identifying suitable experts / collating relevant guidance information for disseminating to potential HE students Higher Education Teaching Experience 2016/17: o Sessions on Further Education Sector in England: Educational Governance and Employment: MA in Education Studies, Centre for Education Studies, Warwick o Research Methods (NVIVO, Qualitative Research), Postgraduate students, Centre of Applied Linguistics, Warwick. 2015-2016: o Sessions on Further Education Sector in the UK ; MA Education Studies and MA Educational Innovation: Module: Contemporary Issues in Further Education (UK), 15/16, Centre for Education Studies, Warwick o Working in the UK Further Education, 2015-2016, Centre for Education Studies, Warwick 2012/2013: o PGCE PCET Course - Teaching Students of English as an Additional Language, City College Coventry / University of Warwick
2011/2012 o PGCE PCET Course - Teaching Students of English as an Additional Language, City College Coventry / University of Warwick 2005-2006 o Digital Resources in the Teaching of English Language: Interactive Whiteboards, Trinity College Diploma in Teaching English Language to Speakers of Other Languages (Trinity TESOL teacher training programme), City College Coventry. Educational Background 2010 - Present University of Warwick: Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership and Management (part-time); Viva passed in Jan 2017; (minor revisions accepted in February 2017) Thesis: Academic Staff Governor Roles in 3 Outstanding FE Colleges in England. Grade A in Research in Educational Leadership and Management Supervisors: Associate Professor Ian Abbott, (Abstract attached as appendix). 2001-2005 University of Leicester: MA in Applied Linguistics and the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (part-time) Dissertation: Interactive Whiteboards: Practice and Implications for English Language Teaching (Research Focus: HE and FE in the UK). Modules and Grades: Advanced Certificate in TESOL: (A); Descriptions of Modern English: Phonetics & Phonology (A); Language, Discourse & Society (B); Second Language Acquisition (A) Computer Assisted Language Learning (A) 1994-1997 University of Stirling, Scotland: BA in English Language Teaching (British Council Scholarship) 01/92-12/92 English Preparatory and Secondary School, The Maldives: - Cambridge Proficiency in English 6/90-06/92 Science Education Centre; The Maldives: - GCE A Level Biology, Physics 02/87-12/89 Majeediyya School, Male, The Maldives: London GCE O Levels: English Language, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Economics, Graphical Communication Professional Training Open Studies Certificate in Post Compulsory Education and Training (Cert. of Ed); Centre for Lifelong Learning, University of Warwick / City College Coventry; Jan 2006 Jul 2007. Advanced Certificate in Teaching English Language to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), University of Leicester; Sep 2001 Feb 2002 Cambridge/RSA Certificate of Teaching English Language to Adults (CELTA), Wigston College; 09/97-06/98 Other Relevant Training Peer Review and Assessment of Research Grants: ESRC, February June 2017 Digital Tools for Researchers; Moodle course; University of Warwick, Jan-Mar 2017 Applying for Research Grants and Fellowships; University of Warwick, Feb 2017 Qualitative Data Analysis Using NVIVO: Advanced; University of Warwick, 2015 Quantitative Data Analysis Using SPSS, University of Warwick, 2012 Quantitative Data Analysis Using Qualtrics, University of Warwick, 2012 Supervisor-Doctoral Student Relationship, University of Warwick, 2012
EndNote - Beginner to Advanced, University of Warwick, 2011-2014 Sitebuilder Web Content Management, University of Warwick, 2011 Qualified Observer of Teaching / Learning, City College Coventry, 2009 Cambridge Skills for Life ESOL Examinations Training, Feb-March, 2005; Oct 2006; Training for Ofsted Inspection (continuous), City College Coventry; 2003-2016 Teaching with Computer Conferencing course, City College Coventry, March- April 2003 ILT in Curriculum: Materials on the Web, City College Coventry, April July 2002 Relevant Professional Membership Associate Fellow of Association for Research in Post-Compulsory Education (ARPCE), UK Member of The British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society (BELMAS): attending / contributing to research meetings, seminars and conferences Founding Member / Director, Maldives Research (www.maldivesresearch.org) an international think-tank on public policy research (Maldives); chairing meetings; managing volunteers; project bidding; securing sponsorship; identifying research opportunities Scholar of MirandaNet (a UK international organisation dedicated to ILT/ICT in Teaching) Head of the Advisory Council, Maldivian Students Association (MSA) in the UK, 2005-2007; providing guidance to the association s Central Committee. Student Advisor, Maldivian Students Association (UK), 1996-1997 organising outdoor and summer activities; providing HE career guidance Secretary, Maldivian Students Association (UK), 1994-1995 Employment History 04/2001 - Present EFL/ESOL Lecturer, (Full-time since April 2003) City College Coventry, Coventry duties and experiences: teaching (English and employability skills), course organisation; organising enrichment activities, providing academic/pastoral tutorial support, using ProMonitor; address learner satisfaction trends in student surveys, self-assessment of courses (attendance, retention and achievement data); manage the teaching team for relevant courses; deliver e-learning in digital form (e.g.:- VLEs such as Moodle; Vizia videos); mentoring of staff; inviting internal and external speakers for sessions; participating in internal / external exam/assessment moderation. 02/2001-06/2001 Part-time EFL Lecturer, Irwin College, Leicester 03/2001-06/2002 Part-time ESOL Lecturer, Soar Valley College, Leicester 03/2001-06/2001 Part-time EFL Lecturer, Henley College, Coventry 11/1998-12/2000 Full-time Cambridge EFL Teacher, Science Education Centre, Maldives duties and experiences: teaching (English), course organisation; organising enrichment activities, providing academic and pastoral tutorial support, to record and maintain students progress and tutorial information self-assessment of courses (attendance, and achievement data) 07/1998-09/1998 EFL teacher for International students, summer schools at Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of Reading and Coventry Technical College 1993-1994 Office Secretary, Foreign Relations, Ministry of Education, Maldives
Appendix: Doctor of Education Thesis Abstract Abdulla Sodiq, University of Warwick, 2017 The Role of Academic Staff Governors at Three Outstanding General Further Education Colleges in England This research aims to explore Academic Staff Governor (ASG) roles at three Outstanding General Further Education colleges in England. Uniquely, the research focuses on types of ASG activities; ASGs professional and power status and the understanding of their roles. The study draws upon relevant literature to identify concepts related to governors roles and activities. An interpretivist stance is used to collect predominantly qualitative data through a combined methods approach, and to engage with ASGs and external governors. During fieldwork, qualitative and quantitative evidence from six semi-structured interviews; 35 questionnaire responses, observations of 8 governance meetings and governance documents, was analysed. Findings suggest that ASGs insiderness; their affiliation with other groups and decision-making circumstances may influence their governing activities. Activities rooted in operational settings such as professional-information giving were highly-valued by other governors, while there were uncertainties about the benefit of having managerial staff as ASGs. The research also identified ASGs relatively low power status which in turn may affect their professional status. There was evidence indicating uncertainty amongst the college staff regarding the role of an ASG in the colleges boards. As a result of the study, to aid understanding and to conceptualise an ASG s role in FE colleges, The 3 RaPs Framework and The Restricted Professional Model of an ASG have been developed. For relevant practitioners, organisations and policymakers, the research recommends clear and specific role descriptions for ASG posts; action to develop ASGs professionality as teachers and to allow more opportunities for ASGs to act as governors. Finally, further research opportunities are identified in order to research ASGs professional profiles in the FE sector; ASGs personality characteristics; clarity of ASG role in educational governance; the role in high performing and underperforming colleges; and the role in the wider global educational governance.