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 Social Science Research Online.

I supervise doctoral projects on issues related to literacy and writing studies, digital literacy, language education, and digital epistemologies. Researchers and potential collaboraters are welcome to contact me about working in these areas.

Much of my research is at the intersections of applied linguistics, literacy studies, and higher education. I have active research interests in writing and literacy as a social practice, digital literacies, and contemporary digital epistemologies.

These interests emerge through three recent books: My 2017 monograph 'Assignments as Controversies'; a 2019 monograph 'Academics Writing: The Dynamics of Knowledge Creation' (both published by Routledge/T&F); and 'The Epistemology of Deceit' (2021, co-edited with Alison MacKenzie and Jennifer Rose); as well as a host of published research articles.

I am also interested in the writing practices and knowledge creating work of academics across contemporary universities. 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. Prior to this, I was employed at the University of Bradford in a project management capacity on a JISC funded learning innovation project.

I have not 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 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.

Trustee and Governing Council member for the Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE)

Executive Editor for the journal Teaching in Higher Education (T&F)

Co-convener of the SRHE's Digital University Network

Editorial Board memeber of the journal Post Digital Science & Education (Springer)

Member of the SRHE's Research & Development Committee

I often conduct Visiting Professor activities at Diponegoro University and Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University (both in Indonesia)

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