Inaugural Lectures
Posted on 15 May 2025
The Department of Education are delighted to host the inaugural lectures of Professor Ursula Lanvers and Professor Umar Toseeb on Tuesday 4 June, celebrating their achievements and contributions to educational research.
The event will be hosted by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Charlie Jeffery.
Ursula's lecture is on "Language learning in the age of Global English: linking two WHY
questions"
Ursula says "Why should foreign languages be taught at school? Why should students learn them? Researchers usually investigate these twocommon WHY questions separately, but I
want, in this talk, to bridge the gap between them. Despite the significant twin developments of Global English and, most recently, AI, the rationales presented for language learning within the school curriculum have benefited from precious little innovation. At the same time, among learners, the motivation for learning languages other than English is becoming increasingly fragile. What is needed, I argue, is an approach that focuses on the unique affordances of language learning, and that bridges policy and pedagogy. The talk will conclude with some personal reflections on my own learner trajectory."
Umar's lecture is on "Why do children and young people with special educational needs
have poor mental health?"
Umar says "Children and young people with special educational needs tend to have poorer mental health compared to those without such needs. The exact reasons for this remain unclear but they are likely to be a combination of genetic, social, and psychological factors. I will reflect on my research over the last decade trying to find answers followed by some considerations of the state of the field and the implications for the future directions for my work."