Staff Profile

Faiza Umar MA SFHEA

Biography

Faiza Umar is the Head of the Centre for Academic Success (CAS) at Middlesex University Dubai, and a Senior Lecturer on the University’s Education Programme. She holds an MA in Education (Leadership and Management) and an MA in English Literature. She also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and a TESOL Certification, along with numerous other teaching and coaching qualifications. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK).

Faiza’s learning and teaching interests include the impact of student support services in higher education and building inclusive practices within educational institutions as well as the community.

Qualifications
  • MA in Education, Leadership and Management, Middlesex University (2012)
  • MA in English Literature, Kinnaird College, Pakistan
  • Advanced Training in Coaching, Graydin (2017)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCertHE), Middlesex University (2015)
  • TESOL Certification, London Teacher Training Centre (2010)
  • Master Trainer, iEARN (International Education and Research Network) (2008)
Awards and achievements
  • Middlesex Staff Innovation Award for Administrative Services (2017-18)
  • Middlesex Post Graduate Award for Outstanding Performance (2012-13)
Membership of professional bodies and associations
  • Senior Fellow at the Higher Education Academy (2020)

Research interests
  • Use of technology in education
  • Teaching of English as a second language
Selected Publications
  • Abonil, M., Umar, F., and Warner, R. (2017)  The incorporation of Self-Discovery as a feature of the induction process. In S. Abu-Rmaileh, A. Elsheikh, and S. Al Alami (Eds.), Motivation and classroom management: Theory, practice, and innovation. TESOL Arabia.
  • Umar, F. (2015) Professional development in the 21st century: The emerging need to develop a collaborative and connected learning community. Second 21st Century academic forum conference at Harvard: Teaching, learning and research in the “Just Google it’ age. Harvard University, Boston. 8-10 March, 2015. Martin Conference Centre: Harvard University (pp.102-105).
  • King, M., Smith, L. and Umar, F. (2014)  Developing Leadership Skills through Participation in Insider Action Research. In C. Coombe,  B. Wiens, P. Davidson,  & K. Cedro. (eds.) Perspectives on Student Leadership Development. TESOL Arabia Publications: Dubai. (pp. 134-147).
  • Edensor, L. and Umar, F. (2013) Facebook in Academia: the yellow brick road or a highway through the danger zone? In A. Karnik, A. Epps,  and K.Sanderson. (eds) Emerging Research Paradigms in Business and Social Sciences 2013: Proceedings of the Second International ERPBSS Conference. Middlesex University Dubai, UAE. 26-28 November, 2013. ISBN: 978-9948-20-593-7

Faculty Members