Dr. Ayşe Gür Geden
Education Professional, Researcher, Consultant
Cambridge, UK
About
With a Ph.D. in Culture, Communication, and Media (UCL) and a multidisciplinary background in applied linguistics, sociology, and teacher training, I bridge research and practice to create equitable educational spaces. My work focuses on decolonizing language education, designing inclusive assessments, and amplifying marginalized voices in academia—from refugee youth programs to international higher education practices.Driven by a belief that education must empower all learners, I collaborate with institutions, NGOs, and educators to transform theory into actionable tools. Whether through ethnographic research, teacher mentorship, or public engagement, I champion approaches that make learning accessible, sustainable, and culturally responsive.
Expertise
Since 2009, I have held various roles across educational institutions in Turkey and the UK, gaining comprehensive experience in every domain of education landscape. As a teacher of English at secondary and tertiary level, I developed teaching materials and curricula, designed and delivered teacher training, and took on administrative roles that required regular meetings, team management, and liaising with institutional and external stakeholders. As a researcher, I investigated the implementation and sustainability of institutional Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) policies with a special focus on international students, ethnic minorities, and learners with mature and caring responsibilities. As an assessment manager at Cambridge University Press & Assessment I have been involved in the development of educational content and assessments for learners as well as teachers, contributing to the efforts to create EDIB‑informed products and services. While performing these roles relevant to English Language Teaching, I’ve always engaged with other domains outside my professional field. I’ve worked with and for asylum seekers and refugees, been involved in obstetric bleeding study as public partner to help craft and introduce a care bundle for underprivileged women, launched a project investigating the barriers and enablers for the economically disadvantaged youth’s access into elite higher education institutions, and contributed to inclusive education toolkits for UCL’s teaching staff.
Experience
UCL IOE, Faculty of Education and Society - Honorary Senior Research Fellow (ongoing)Cambridge University Press and Assessment - Assessment Manager (ongoing)Oxford University Press - Assessment Support ManagerUCL Culture Public Engagement Division - Community Engaged Learning Ambassador & Project CoordinatorHigher Education Academy - Associate FellowUCL Arena Centre for Research-based Education - Quality ReviewerUCL IOE - Faculty of Education and Society - Postgraduate Teaching AssistantFatih Sultan Mehmet University & Istanbul Sehir University - English for Academic Purposes Teacher and CoordinatorCinar Secondary School & Alfred University Distance Education - EFL Teacher
Research & Projects
The Experiences of Economically Disadvantaged British Muslim Students Accessing Elite Universities in England (ongoing research at Brunel University)Muslim Researchers Network: Mentor and Education Research Team Committee Member (active duty)Clinical and cost effectiveness of a maternity quality improvement programme to reduce excess bleeding after childbirth: the Obstetric Bleeding Study UK (OBS UK) (ongoing research)Sub-Saharan African (SSAn) International Students in Turkiye and their role as brokers to improve economic and diplomatic relations between Turkiye & SSA (2023)Teacher identity and beliefs; Inclusion and Diversity in ELT; Research-based Critical Pedagogy (2015)The drivers of transit migration from Sub-Saharan Africa to Turkiye; Xeno-racism and Social Transformation; the Impact of Stakeholder Involvement (2014)Various volunteering roles in projects to support refugee education (SchoolX), international staff & student wellbeing (Oxford University Newcomers Club), and postgraduate student experiences (Oxford University Islamic Society)
