Katherine Wimpenny

Roles & Affiliations: Katherine Wimpenny is a Full Professor of Research in Global Education and Theme Lead for Global Learning: Education Without Boundaries at Coventry University's Research Centre for Global Learning (GLEA). She holds leadership roles in interdisciplinary research and innovation projects, including Horizon Europe-funded initiatives like YOUROPE and EUTERPE. She is also a Member of the ESRC Peer Review College.

Education Background: Dr. Wimpenny holds a PhD in Participatory change: an integrated approach toward occupational therapy practice development from Coventry University (2009), alongside advanced qualifications in Higher Education Teaching, Occupational Therapy, and Community Mental Health.

Research Interests: Her work focuses on global education, internationalisation, decolonisation, and the role of universities in fostering ethical engagement. She explores plural ways of knowing through digital and blended learning spaces, with a particular emphasis on Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and curriculum transformation. Her research bridges theory, pedagogy, and social justice, emphasizing participatory and arts-based methodologies.

Recent Projects: She leads projects such as YOUROPE (enhancing democratic participation in Europe), EUTERPE (gender and transnational literary studies), and iKUDU (decolonizing curricula in South Africa). Additional initiatives include ACES (community resilience through education) and the Transforming Staff Doctoral Research program.

Awards & Recognition: She has been a finalist for the Outstanding Research Supervisory Team Award multiple times (2023, 2024) and won the award in 2019. Her work has been recognized through grants from Horizon Europe, the British Council, and South African capacity development programs.

Advising & Grants: Currently supervising 12 PhD students across topics like COIL mechanisms, resilience in medical students, and decolonisation of gender studies. She has secured funding for projects totaling millions, including Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ grants.

Labs & Teams: Active in the GLEA Centre and the Disruptive Media Learning Lab. Collaborates with global networks like the International Doctoral Education Research Network and the Academic Network on Global Education and Learning.