Omolabake Fakunle

PhD candidate at The University of Edinburgh, exploring employability and internationalisation of higher education and UK Masters-level student experience.

After 15 years work experience in Accounting (UPS), Auditing (KPMG), Sales and Marketing, Banking, and running my own business, I returned to study in the UK in 2011 at The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) where I was awarded an Excellence Scholarship. I initiated and was inaugural Chair of the UCLan Scholars Society with undergraduate and postgraduate members from 11 countries. With a First Class Business degree, I progressed to study MSc Educational Research at Edinburgh.

My research and teaching is mainly within the Moray House School of Education, Edinburgh, and I have published in peer-reviewed publications and presented at national and international conferences.

I have also worked on student experience projects across departments at Edinburgh including the Institute for Academic Development (collaborative QAA Focus-On project), the Careers Service (the Leadership Team), and the Student Recruitment and Admissions.

I am actively involved in a leading capacity in several roles supporting postgraduates (PhDs) and emerging career researchers (ECRs) towards developing networks and promoting their research within and beyond their institution as (i) convenor of the Internationalisation Research Group, School of Education, Edinburgh, with members from Asia, Africa, Europe, South America and the Middle East who are involved in activities and collaboration around areas of their mutual research interest, (ii) as one of 5-member leadership team of the global Universitas 21 Forum for International Networking in Education (U21 FINE), working with Deans of Education in U21 institutions to foster mentoring opportunities, peer learning, collaboration and networking for PhDs and ECRs online and at education conferences in the USA (AERA) and Europe (ECER). And, (iii) I am one of three SRHE Newer Researchers Champions recruited by the SRHE leadership team to develop a project to support PhDs and ECRs disseminate their research to online audience within and outside the UK, using social media (LinkedIn) and webinars.

I enjoy writing blogs including posts for UCLan, Edinburgh (IAD & Teaching Matters), British Council Education UK, and my personal blog @mummyscholar