About Me
I am an Associate Professor (Reader) in International Development at the University of Westminster in London, where I have taught and researched International Development for over 30 years. I am a National Teaching Fellow and have been recognised multiple times for excellence in teaching, receiving the “Outstanding Teacher” award from the Students’ Union in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2019, as well as the Westminster Learning and Teaching Award in 2022. These honours reflect my long-standing commitment to enhancing the student learning experience through innovative teaching practices, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and extensive knowledge-exchange initiatives with local and international partners.
I have pioneered and directed several major staff–student initiatives, most notably the Democratic Education Network (DEN), a nationally and internationally recognised model of democratic, experiential, and globally engaged learning. Under my leadership, DEN has gained significant recognition, including runner-up for the Student Experience Award at the Guardian University Awards in 2019 and Highly Commended for Student Engagement at the Green Gown Awards in 2025. These achievements demonstrate the impact of my commitment to fostering inclusive education, empowering students, and promoting transformational learning.
DILEMMAS OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
In this module, students will explore the diverse field of development studies. They will be introduced to significant debates in development theory as well as the history of development policy and practice. The course promotes critical thinking about development, encompassing its scope, implementation, and potential outcomes.
Democratic Engagement in an International Context
The hybrid multidisciplinary face-to-face and online module engages students democratically by promoting values, practices, and participation locally and internationally. In addition, it develops students’ collaborative leadership skills by empowering them to work collectively and creatively with universities and organisations globally in countries such as Vietnam, Turkey, Thailand, and Uzbekistan
Politics and Development in the Middle East
This module focuses on the politics of development in the Middle East. It explores how international and global political economy have shaped this region. The module explores key topics including state formation, political regimes, the economy, and society. It also considers the effects of imperialism and neoliberalism on the region’s development dynamics. The module analyses the politics of critical resources like oil and their impact on the state, economy, and society.
Research
I have successfully balanced my research, teaching, and learning pursuits. My primary focus in research lies on international political economy and development. I explore how the interplay between global politics and the economy affects state and developmental issues in the Middle East. I have published various articles and books on this theme. Currently, I am investigating the impact of recent changes in the international political economy on the behaviour and role of the Iranian state on regional and global levels..
The publications I have produced reflect the evolving curriculum and enhance the modules that I teach. I have collaborated with colleagues from the Middle East, South East Asia, and Latin America to create books and articles in English, Turkish, and Spanish. Additionally, I have presented some of my research papers at conferences held by the British International Studies Association and the Political Studies Association.
Democratic Education Network
DEN combines democracy and education; it brings students and academics together and provides different ways of teaching, leading, supporting, and opening new knowledge.
DEN is a platform that promotes collaboration between students and faculty members by providing links to various ethnic communities in London and universities around the world. DEN’s projects include an online magazine, an annual book, an international student conference, a YouTube channel, and international field trips. In 2017, DEN was recognized for positively impacting students’ personal experiences at the University of Westminster, and in 2018, it was a runner-up for the Students’ Experience Award at the Guardian University Awards.