I am the Director for the MSc TESOL at Queen’s University Belfast, and lead on the following modules: Digital Literacy & Communication (EDU7273) and Issues in Language Assessment for TESOL (EDU7253). I also contribute to the MRes Social Research Methods on the module Advanced Qualitative Research (SOC9061), and supervise doctoral projects on issues related to language education, literacy & writing research, digital literacy & educational technology.

My research and teaching interests lie at the intersections of applied linguistics (including TESOL), literacy studies, and educational research. Much of this recently has been concerned with digital literacy and writing, and these interests emerge through my 2017 book 'Assignments as Controversies' and a co-authored monograph 'Academics Writing: The Dynamics of Knowledge Creation' (both published by Routledge/T&F).

I am also interested in the writing practices and knowledge creating work of academics across contemporary Higher Education. Prior to joining Queen's University, I was a Senior Researcher on a 2 year ESRC project which investigated the changing nature of academic work, writing, and knowledge creation.

I received my PhD from the University of Leeds (ESRC funded) for a thesis which investigated the impact of cyberspace and digital media on the literacy practices of adult learners during the writing of their course assignments. I conducted fieldwork informed by 'screen-in-screen' videographies to capture writing unfolding.

Prior to this, I was employed at the University of Bradford in a project management capacity on a JISC funded learning innovation project.

I haven’t always worked in Universities. My career began in community learning and Further Education where I taught on and managed Adult ESOL and Literacy courses. It is from this context that my interest in digital literacy and language learning began to emerge: through observing how people who were otherwise marginalised and displaced could - through their digital literacies - become core participants of communities in digital environments, and thus radically transform their lives.

I am a co-convener of the Digital University Network for the Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE), and a member of the Society's Governing Council.

Web Links:
Twitter: @ibrar_bhatt
Website: http://ibrarspace.net