Hua Zhu

Professor Hua Zhu is a distinguished academic serving as Professor of Language Learning and Intercultural Communication at the UCL Institute of Education (IOE), Faculty of Education and Society. She is also the Director of the International Centre for Intercultural Studies at IOE and serves as Chair of the British Association for Applied Linguistics (2021-2024).

Professor Zhu's academic journey includes significant leadership roles at prestigious institutions:

• Chair of Educational Linguistics and Director of the Mosaic Group for Research on Multilingualism at the University of Birmingham (2020-2021)
• Professor of Applied Linguistics and Communication at Birkbeck College, University of London (2007-2020)
• Head of Department and Assistant Dean at Birkbeck College (2014-2020)

Her research spans multilingualism and intercultural communication, focusing on how people from diverse linguistic backgrounds communicate, language acquisition processes across the lifespan, and the intersection of language with power dynamics and social justice. Professor Zhu's work bridges theoretical insights with practical applications in educational settings, addressing contemporary challenges in multicultural societies.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a growing emphasis on emerging areas including AI and intercultural communication, pandemic impacts on language learning, and innovative approaches to language education policy. Her work increasingly explores the intersection of digital technologies with cultural understanding and communication practices.

Professor Zhu's scholarly contributions have been recognized through prestigious fellowships:

• Fellow of Academia Europaea (2025)
• Fellow of the International Academy for Intercultural Research (2020)
• Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, UK (2019)

As Director of the Language Hubs programme funded by the Department for Education (2023-2026), Professor Zhu leads efforts to revitalize language learning in UK schools. Her supervision approach emphasizes collaborative research, interdisciplinary perspectives, and real-world impact, providing students with opportunities to engage with cutting-edge research questions at the intersection of language, culture, and technology.

Under her leadership, the International Centre for Intercultural Studies serves as a dynamic hub for research on multilingualism, language education, and intercultural communication, fostering collaboration between researchers, educators, and policymakers to address contemporary challenges in language learning and cultural understanding.