Dr. Abdulla Sodiq (EdD, MA, BA, Cert.

Ed)
19 years of Continuous Service in Education
Director of Maldives Research

Contact Details
E-mail: a.sodiq@warwick.ac.uk; abdulla.sodiq@maldivesresearch.org

Published Research Papers

Shiuna, M. and Sodiq, A. (2013) Improving Education in the Maldives: Stakeholder
Perspectives on the Maldivian Education Sector. International Journal of Small Economies,
4(1), 23-38. Peer Reviewed Research Paper. Ilkley, UK: Maldives Research Available:
http://ijse.maldivesresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IJSE-ISSUE-4-Shiuna-Sodiq-2013-Education-Forum-
Maldives.pdf
Sodiq, Abdulla. 2012. The Composition of Governing Bodies: a Case Study of a College in
England. Warwick Research Archive Portal. Non-Peer Reviewed Research Paper. Coventry.
University of Warwick. Available: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/49208/

Accepted Peer-Reviewed Academic Papers and Conference Papers

Sodiq, A and Abbott, Ian (2017); Academic Staff Governors in Education Governing Bodies,
Research in Post-Compulsory Education and Training, ARPCE, UK (Accepted June 2017).
Sodiq, A, 2017, BELMAS Annual Conference Presentation (Abstract Accepted: 8/3/2017),
Academic Staff Governors in Further Education College Governing Bodies, 07 July 2017,
British Educational Leadership, management and Administration Society, UK; Secured
Funding 388.00 from University of Warwick.

Other Research Activity:

Proposal in Progress: New Investigator Research Grant (ESRC): Higher Secondary
Education in High Poverty Regions in the Maldives within the UNs Sustainable
Development Goals 4 (Education) Agenda (2018-2020); Research team consists of
colleagues at the University of Warwick, Deakin University, Maldives National University
and Islamic University of Maldives.
Shortlisted in the Early Career Researcher (ECR) in ESRC funded project proposal for the
Maldives; proposal focussing on sustainability issues with an interdisciplinary perspective
submitted in Jan 2017 (ESRC-DFID Joint Fund for Poverty Alleviation Research
Development Frontiers Research Fund 2016-17): Role: key leadership role in project
design and delivery and for development of research networks and avenues for exploitation
for maximum impact; capacity and capability enhancement of Maldivian researchers; jointly
co-ordinate project activities with Greenwich University, Maldivian National University and
Maldives Research Grant: ECR element 18,000; Total project: 258,000)

Conference / Seminar Presentations

Seminar Presentation: 11/1/2017, Academic Staff Governor Roles in Further Education: Role
Model and Framework, Centre for Education Studies, University of Warwick
Conference Presentation: 26/11/2016, Academic Staff Governors in High performing Further
Education College Governing Bodies, Doctoral Research Conference, School of Education,
University of Birmingham, UK
Seminar Presentation: 13/10/2016, Caf Research, University of Warwick
Seminar Presentation: 13/06/2012, Caf Scientifique, University of Warwick
Conference Presentation: 10/06/2012, Kaleidoscope Conference, Institute of Education,
University of Cambridge, UK
 Seminar Presentation: 16/3/2012, Governance Research Interest Group, BELMAS, Institute
of Education, UCL, London
Symposium Presentation: 29/2/2012: Centre for Education Studies, University of Warwick

Relevant and Significant Professional Experience

2017-2019: Member of the ESRC (UK) Reviewer Group and Grant Assessment Panel 2017
Since 1998: English Language teaching, various institutions, Maldives and the UK
2017: Member of the Annual Postgraduate Research Conference organising Committee,
CES, University of Warwick
2012: Project Co-ordinator, Maldives Research, Project: Improving Education in the
Maldives: Stakeholder Perspectives, Male, The Maldives. budgeting the project; successfully
securing funding from Maldivian businesses; identifying and securing of target participants;
dissemination of findings; Total Project Funding 3,045.00
2008-2010: Advanced Practitioner (CPD mentor), City College Coventry, delivering and
reviewing staff development activities; lesson observations (developmental and graded)
2008: Participant in the organising team of the Go-Teach Project in the Maldives, Maldivian
Students Association (UK), guiding participants based on previous experience.
2007: Academic Co-ordinator of the Go-Teach Project in the Maldives, Maldivian Students
Association (UK), producing the curriculum and staffing the teaching programme
2006-2010: Staff Trainings Delivered:
o Recording CPD for teachers (2008-2010)
o Differentiation in Teaching and Learning (2008-2010)
o Podcasting in TESOL, Dec 06, ESOL Department, City College Coventry
o Embedded Learning: ESOL in ICT, Jan 07, ESOL Department, City College Coventry
o ILT in ESOL: VLE (Web-CT) in ESOL, Jul 06, ESOL Department, City College Coventry
2006: Active Participant in LLC sponsored project: Web-CT in ESOL, City College Coventry
2000: Superintendent of University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES)
Examinations (English Language) and EDEXCELs (London) GCE A Level Exams,
1995: Project team member, Higher Education Awareness Programme (HEAP 95)
conducted by Maldivian Students Association (UK), in the Maldives - identifying suitable
experts / collating relevant guidance information for disseminating to potential HE students

Higher Education Teaching Experience

2016/17:
o Sessions on Further Education Sector in England: Educational Governance and
Employment: MA in Education Studies, Centre for Education Studies, Warwick
o Research Methods (NVIVO, Qualitative Research), Postgraduate students, Centre
of Applied Linguistics, Warwick.
2015-2016:
o Sessions on Further Education Sector in the UK; MA Education Studies and MA
Educational Innovation: Module: Contemporary Issues in Further Education (UK),
15/16, Centre for Education Studies, Warwick
o Working in the UK Further Education, 2015-2016, Centre for Education Studies,
Warwick
2012/2013:
o PGCE PCET Course - Teaching Students of English as an Additional Language,
City College Coventry / University of Warwick
 2011/2012
o PGCE PCET Course - Teaching Students of English as an Additional Language,
City College Coventry / University of Warwick
2005-2006
o Digital Resources in the Teaching of English Language: Interactive Whiteboards,
Trinity College Diploma in Teaching English Language to Speakers of Other
Languages (Trinity TESOL teacher training programme), City College Coventry.

Educational Background
2010 - Present University of Warwick: Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational
Leadership and Management (part-time); Viva passed in Jan 2017; (minor
revisions accepted in February 2017)
Thesis: Academic Staff Governor Roles in 3 Outstanding FE Colleges in England.
Grade A in Research in Educational Leadership and Management
Supervisors: Associate Professor Ian Abbott, (Abstract attached as appendix).

2001 - 2005 University of Leicester: MA in Applied Linguistics and the Teaching of

English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (part-time)
Dissertation: Interactive Whiteboards: Practice and Implications for English Language Teaching
(Research Focus: HE and FE in the UK).
Modules and Grades: Advanced Certificate in TESOL: (A); Descriptions of Modern English:
Phonetics & Phonology (A); Language, Discourse & Society (B); Second Language Acquisition (A)
Computer Assisted Language Learning (A)

1994 - 1997 University of Stirling, Scotland: BA in English Language Teaching

(British Council Scholarship)
01/92 - 12/92 English Preparatory and Secondary School, The Maldives: - Cambridge
Proficiency in English
6/90 - 06/92 Science Education Centre; The Maldives: - GCE A Level Biology, Physics
02/87 - 12/89 Majeediyya School, Male, The Maldives: London GCE OLevels: English
Language, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Economics, Graphical
Communication

Professional Training
Open Studies Certificate in Post Compulsory Education and Training (Cert. of Ed); Centre
for Lifelong Learning, University of Warwick / City College Coventry; Jan 2006 Jul 2007.
Advanced Certificate in Teaching English Language to Speakers of Other Languages
(TESOL), University of Leicester; Sep 2001 Feb 2002
Cambridge/RSA Certificate of Teaching English Language to Adults (CELTA), Wigston
College; 09/97 - 06/98

Other Relevant Training

Peer Review and Assessment of Research Grants: ESRC, February June 2017
Digital Tools for Researchers; Moodle course; University of Warwick, Jan-Mar 2017
Applying for Research Grants and Fellowships; University of Warwick, Feb 2017
Qualitative Data Analysis Using NVIVO: Advanced; University of Warwick, 2015
Quantitative Data Analysis Using SPSS, University of Warwick, 2012
Quantitative Data Analysis Using Qualtrics, University of Warwick, 2012
Supervisor-Doctoral Student Relationship, University of Warwick, 2012
 EndNote - Beginner to Advanced, University of Warwick, 2011-2014
Sitebuilder Web Content Management, University of Warwick, 2011
Qualified Observer of Teaching / Learning, City College Coventry, 2009
Cambridge Skills for Life ESOL Examinations Training, Feb-March, 2005; Oct 2006;
Training for Ofsted Inspection (continuous), City College Coventry; 2003-2016
Teaching with Computer Conferencing course, City College Coventry, March- April 2003
ILT in Curriculum: Materials on the Web, City College Coventry, April July 2002

Relevant Professional Membership

Associate Fellow of Association for Research in Post-Compulsory Education (ARPCE), UK
Member of The British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society
(BELMAS): attending / contributing to research meetings, seminars and conferences
Founding Member / Director, Maldives Research (www.maldivesresearch.org) an
international think-tank on public policy research (Maldives); chairing meetings; managing
volunteers; project bidding; securing sponsorship; identifying research opportunities
Scholar of MirandaNet (a UK international organisation dedicated to ILT/ICT in Teaching)
Head of the Advisory Council, Maldivian Students Association (MSA) in the UK, 2005-2007;
providing guidance to the associations Central Committee.
Student Advisor, Maldivian Students Association (UK), 1996-1997 organising outdoor and
summer activities; providing HE career guidance
Secretary, Maldivian Students Association (UK), 1994-1995

Employment History
04/2001 - Present EFL/ESOL Lecturer, (Full-time since April 2003) City College Coventry,
Coventry
duties and experiences: teaching (English and employability skills), course
organisation; organising enrichment activities, providing academic/pastoral
tutorial support, using ProMonitor; address learner satisfaction trends in
student surveys, self-assessment of courses (attendance, retention and
achievement data); manage the teaching team for relevant courses;
deliver e-learning in digital form (e.g.:- VLEs such as Moodle; Vizia
videos); mentoring of staff; inviting internal and external speakers for
sessions; participating in internal / external exam/assessment moderation.
02/2001 - 06/2001 Part-time EFL Lecturer, Irwin College, Leicester
03/2001 - 06/2002 Part-time ESOL Lecturer, Soar Valley College, Leicester
03/2001 - 06/2001 Part-time EFL Lecturer, Henley College, Coventry
11/1998 - 12/2000 Full-time Cambridge EFL Teacher, Science Education Centre, Maldives
duties and experiences: teaching (English), course organisation;
organising enrichment activities, providing academic and pastoral tutorial
support, to record and maintain students progress and tutorial information
self-assessment of courses (attendance, and achievement data)
07/1998 - 09/1998 EFL teacher for International students, summer schools at Queen Mary &
Westfield College, University of Reading and Coventry Technical College
1993 - 1994 Office Secretary, Foreign Relations, Ministry of Education, Maldives
 Appendix: Doctor of Education Thesis Abstract
Abdulla Sodiq, University of Warwick, 2017

The Role of Academic Staff Governors at Three Outstanding General Further Education
Colleges in England

This research aims to explore Academic Staff Governor (ASG) roles at three Outstanding General
Further Education colleges in England. Uniquely, the research focuses on types of ASG activities;
ASGs professional and power status and the understanding of their roles. The study draws upon
relevant literature to identify concepts related to governors roles and activities. An interpretivist
stance is used to collect predominantly qualitative data through a combined methods approach,
and to engage with ASGs and external governors. During fieldwork, qualitative and quantitative
evidence from six semi-structured interviews; 35 questionnaire responses, observations of 8
governance meetings and governance documents, was analysed. Findings suggest that ASGs
insiderness; their affiliation with other groups and decision-making circumstances may influence
their governing activities. Activities rooted in operational settings such as professional-information
giving were highly-valued by other governors, while there were uncertainties about the benefit of
having managerial staff as ASGs. The research also identified ASGs relatively low power status
which in turn may affect their professional status. There was evidence indicating uncertainty
amongst the college staff regarding the role of an ASG in the colleges boards. As a result of the
study, to aid understanding and to conceptualise an ASGs role in FE colleges, The 3 RaPs
Framework and The Restricted Professional Model of an ASG have been developed. For relevant
practitioners, organisations and policymakers, the research recommends clear and specific role
descriptions for ASG posts; action to develop ASGs professionality as teachers and to allow more
opportunities for ASGs to act as governors. Finally, further research opportunities are identified in
order to research ASGs professional profiles in the FE sector; ASGs personality characteristics;
clarity of ASG role in educational governance; the role in high performing and underperforming
colleges; and the role in the wider global educational governance.