Heather Cockayne

Dr. Heather Cockayne is a Senior Lecturer in International Education at the Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester. Her work integrates social science theories to examine international student experiences, digital learning environments, and the impact of internationalization on pedagogy and curriculum.

• PhD in Higher Education (University of Manchester, 2020)
• MA in Teaching English to Young Learners (University of York, 2010)
• BA in International Business (Nottingham Trent University, 2006)

Her research emphasizes inclusive teaching practices for international and marginalized students, utilizing photography as a method to decentralize language and foster participation. She explores Sino-British partnerships in transnational education (TNE) and their policy implications.

Recent publications focus on student well-being, acculturation, longitudinal research, and the role of digital technologies. She supervises PhD candidates on topics like reputation management and internationalization-Diversity-Inclusion intersections.

• Senior Fellow, The Higher Education Academy

She leads the MA International Education program, teaching modules on digital learning and international education systems. Her work aligns with UN SDG 4: Quality Education, particularly for international and marginalized groups.