Senior Lecturer in Education Studies
I have a varied range of teaching and research experiences within the education sector. Although I started a career after leaving school as an engineer, lasting for 6 years, and then decided to return to education. I started teaching in 1994, as an undergraduate, teaching mathematics within a further education college.
My interest, at that time, related to pure mathematics and statistics. Another interest was the forgotten – often, intentionally, excluded – contribution of non-European, disabled people and women in mathematics and music. As a Mathematics and Music graduate, I completed a PGCE (post-16) and became increasingly involved in teacher education and developed a specialism in Inclusive Education and disability issues.
My teaching experience has ranged from teaching mathematics across secondary, further and higher education, teacher education, and teaching units such as pure mathematics, analysis, statistics, research, the politics of disability, disability issues and inclusive education at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Qualifications
- MRes (Education and Social Research), Institute of Education, University of London
- MA (Inclusive Education), University of Bolton
- Licentiate of London College of Music (LLCM)
- Post-Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE – Post 16), University of Bolton
- BA(Combined Honours) Degree in Mathematics and Music, University of Liverpool
- Associate of London College of Music (ALCM)
Teaching Expertise
- Education Studies, Disability Studies and Research Method units (undergraduate and postgraduate)
- Student supervision on the MA Education programme.
Research Interests
- European project involving five countries (Italy, France, Romania, Iceland, England) exploring the European legislation and policy context related to Inclusive Education.
- Keynote speaker leading seminars and workshops in Jakarta and Mataram, Lombok entitled ‘Moving towards inclusion for teachers of mainstream schools’. He has presented lectures, seminars and workshops in Canada (York University, Toronto), Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia (University of Zagreb), Indonesia and India (University of Uktal, Bhubaneswar), 2008
- Funded by the Education Attache, Indonesian Embassy to complete a report to explore the scope of educational provision available for disabled young people, 2007
- EU-India European Cross-Cultural Programme which involved working with colleagues in Germany and India, exploring the notion of relationships, intimacy, friendship and support with reference to ‘Circles of Support', 2004-2006
- Conducted an evaluation of a programme ‘Partners in Policymaking’ (a course which attracts disabled people and parents of disabled people to have an active involvement with their local authorities in order to engage with policy and practice), 2004
- Distinction in the field of ‘Emancipatory Research’
- Permanent exclusion of young people from mainstream school.
- PhD situated within the field of inclusive education, disability studies and issues of equality and diversity with a particular interest with disabled students and higher education in relation to the identification of barriers, challenges and opportunities. This work draws upon the theoretical work of Foucault, Deleuze and Guattari which the latter two position mathematics and music as a rarefied form of philosophy, and all three collectively challenge the conventions of modernity and the philosophical tradition of Enlightenment
Publications
- Kikabhai, N., Kennworthy, J. and Whittaker, J. (2008). ‘Inclusive Education and Social Justice in England’ in Bunch, G. and Valeo, A. (eds.). Inclusive Education; To Do or Not To Do, Canada: Inclusion Press.
- Whittaker, J. and Kikabhai, N. (2008). ‘How schools create challenging behaviours’ in Richards, G. and Armstrong, F. (eds.). Key Issues for Teaching Assistants: Working in diverse and inclusive classrooms, London: Routledge.
- Whittaker, J. and Kikabhai, N. (2005). ‘The Illusion of Inclusion’, Coalition, The Magazine of the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, Dec 2005.
Research Reports
- Kikabhai, N. (2012). Resistance: which way the future? (Disability History Month Evaluation Report), unpublished, University of Bedfordshire
- Kikabhai, N. and Suwaryani, N. (2008). Exploratory Visit – Indonesian Context, unpublished, funded by the Education Attache from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia.
- Kikabhai, N. (2004). Partners in Policymaking – The Wigan Experience, (15 Apr 2008).
- Barton, L. and Kikabhai, N. (2004). Final Report: The [Cutting Edge] Theatre Initiative, unpublished, funded by the Learning Skills Council.
Contact Details
T: + 44 (0)1234 793437
E: navin.kikabhai@beds.ac.uk
