Multilingual Programmes Professors and Supervisors

Maciej LitwinView profile

Assistant Professor

University of WrocławPoland

Dr. Maciej Litwin serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Translation Studies at the University of Wrocław, a position he has held since 2015. He teaches translation specialization courses at undergraduate and graduate levels, and instructs postgraduate students in business language and international relations. His academic journey includes earning a PhD in 2014. Dr. Litwin's scholarly work leverages multilingual sources in Polish, English, French, German, Greek (ancient and modern), Russian, and Czech, reflecting deep linguistic versatility. Since 2018, his research has critically examined translation theory through historical controversies, philosophical frameworks, and metalinguistic concepts. His analyses of foundational figures like Roman Jakobson and Lawrence Venuti challenge instrumentalist approaches while exploring energy metaphors and glottocentric biases in translation scholarship. His recent publications in premier journals like Translation Studies and The Translator reveal consistent engagement with historical trajectories and theoretical innovations. Key themes include the politicization of translation, critique of functionalism, and re-evaluation of classical translation paradigms across diverse linguistic traditions. Dr. Litwin actively mentors students in translation programs. His institutional contributions span strategic roles including regional coordinator for the OECD's Review of Higher Education (2011-2013), membership in Wrocław's Consultative Council for Education (2010-2018), and participation in the University of Wrocław's Integrated Development Programme (2018-2022) co-financed by the European Union.

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Jacopo Francesco AlbertiView profile

Associate Professor

University of FerraraItaly

Jacopo Francesco Alberti is an Associate Professor at the University of Ferrara's Department of Law, where he has served since October 2019. He coordinates the Jean Monnet Module 'EU Specialized Judicial Protection' and maintains active roles in European research networks including the European Network on Soft Law Research. His academic journey includes a PhD in European Union Law from the University of Milan (2011-2014), a research visit to the University of Oxford, and an LL.M. from the University of Milan. Alberti is multilingual, with professional proficiency in English (C1) and German (B2/C1). Alberti's research focuses on European Union Law , particularly the evolution of EU agencies, soft law governance, judicial protection mechanisms, and financial market regulation. His work critically examines the interplay between supranational institutions and national legal systems, with emphasis on administrative adjudication and regulatory oversight. Recent publications explore judicial reforms, agency accountability, and the impact of preliminary rulings in EU law. Alberti has received multiple awards including the Meritorious Graduates award (2011) and competitive research grants from the PRIN Programme and Banca Sella SpA. He coordinates editorial initiatives such as the 'Giurisprudenza Antitrust Milanese' database and the journal Eurojus . As a member of the Italian Association of EU Law Scholars, he contributes to advancing European legal scholarship.

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Lee GriffithsView profile

Lecturer

University of SalfordUnited Kingdom

Lee Griffiths is a seasoned Lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Salford's School of Science, Engineering & Environment , where he has held academic positions since 1998. As Programme Leader for Computer Science, he oversees the core program that serves as a gateway to Software Engineering and Cybersecurity specialisms, working closely with School Management and Associate Deans. His institutional affiliations include the Informatics Research Centre and collaborative work with the School of Health & Society on virtual environment applications for occupational therapy education. Griffiths' research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction , Usability Engineering , and Web Development , with particular emphasis on cross-cultural web usage patterns. His work examines how users from different linguistic backgrounds (Arabic RTL vs English LTR, Chinese vs European) interact with digital interfaces, utilizing innovative methodologies like mouse tracking. He has also made significant contributions to learning technologies , developing tools like MediaSurface for BBC North West Tonight and investigating flexible learning approaches in higher education. His publication record spans over two decades with consistent output in user interface and learning technology fields. Recent work shows a trend toward practical applications of HCI research in media, emergency planning, and international development contexts. His 2019 mouse tracking study represents the culmination of his cross-cultural interface research that began with his 2007 Chinese-European user comparison study. Salford Learning Technology Fellow As an educator, Griffiths has supervised hundreds of student projects across all academic levels and developed innovative teaching approaches that prioritize student engagement and real-world application. His commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion manifests through encouraging students to explore diverse cultural contexts in their work, resulting in more socially relevant technological solutions. He maintains exceptional student relationships through flexible communication channels including Discord alongside traditional university platforms, ensuring accessibility for students balancing academic and external commitments.

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Costanza NavarrettaView profile

Researcher

University of CopenhagenDenmark

Costanza Navarretta serves as a Senior Researcher at the Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics, University of Copenhagen, where she conducts advanced research in computational linguistics and multimodal communication through the Centre for Language Technology. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical applications in digital text modeling and language resource development. Her academic foundation includes: PhD in Computational Linguistics (2002, University of Copenhagen) with dissertation 'The Use and Resolution of Intersentential Pronominal Anaphora in Danish Discourse' Master in Computer Science (1992, University of Copenhagen) with film minor Master in Scandinavian Languages and Literature (1982, University "La Sapienza" of Rome) Visiting studies in Nordic Philology (1980-1982, University of Copenhagen) Navarretta's research centers on multimodal communication systems, computational cognitive science, and intersentential pronominal anaphora. She develops methodologies for annotating and utilizing multimodal corpora while advancing natural language processing techniques for coreference resolution. Her expertise spans language technology, corpus linguistics, machine learning, and XML-based digital text modeling, with particular focus on parliamentary discourse and online interaction environments. As National Coordinator for CLARIN-DK since 2019, she shapes national infrastructure for language resources. Recent publications reveal a concentrated trajectory in parliamentary corpus linguistics, with significant contributions to the ParlaMint project across 20+ European languages. Her work integrates computational analysis of policy domains, gender representation, and sentiment in political debates, demonstrating interdisciplinary convergence between digital humanities, political science, and NLP. The GEHM Zoom corpus project further extends her research into multimodal behavior in virtual environments, reflecting adaptation to contemporary communication contexts. Navarretta actively shapes her field through extensive peer review for LREC, Nodalida, and journals including Natural Language Engineering, while co-organizing annual workshops on multimodal communication. Her leadership includes Programme Responsible for IT and Cognition (2013-2017, 2020-2023) and Head of Studies at the Nordic Research Institute (2015-2017), alongside developing courses at both University of Copenhagen and IT University. Current collaborations through CLARIN and ParlaMint networks demonstrate sustained international engagement in language resource development.

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Maria Blanco-HermidaView profile

Senior Lecturer

University of WestminsterUnited Kingdom

Maria Blanco-Hermida is a Senior Lecturer in Spanish in the School of Humanities at the University of Westminster. She teaches Spanish Language in Polylang, the University's Open Language Programme, and the BA Spanish programme. Additionally, she works as a language learning strategies coach and language teacher trainer at her own coaching business, Maria Blanco Coaching. Dr. Blanco-Hermida has held various academic roles over her career, including Open Language Spanish Coordinator, DELE Exams Officer, Spanish Language and Culture consultant, HE external examiner, GCSE examiner, and Spanish Development Editor. She has worked extensively in designing, delivering, and assessing Spanish as a Foreign Language courses for more than twenty-five years. Her educational background includes a BA (Hons) in Education from the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca (Spain) and an MA in Modern Languages in Education from the University College of London Institute of Education. She is also a Neurolanguage Coach® certified by Efficient Language Coaching and accredited by the International Coaching Federation, as well as a certified EUROLTA Teacher Trainer, International House Spanish Language Teacher and Online Tutor, DELE Examiner, and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Dr. Blanco-Hermida's research focuses on exploring frameworks for effective language learning strategy training and coaching, as well as learner perceptions of strategy use. She has designed, implemented, and researched strategy training activities aimed at promoting effective and enjoyable autonomous language learning. Her recent work shows a strong emphasis on practical applications of language learning strategies, with numerous workshops and projects focused on vocabulary acquisition, speaking skills development, and teacher training. Her publications and presentations consistently address how to empower students to become independent and effective language learners. Dr. Blanco-Hermida has authored two significant books: 'How to Learn Spanish: A guide to powerful principles and strategies for successful learning and self-empowerment' (2021) and 'How to Teach Language Learning Strategies: 4 simple steps for successful independent language learning' (2021), which have been well-received in the language education community. She has been actively involved in staff development and teacher training, conducting workshops for institutions including the University of Westminster, Morley College, and the Instituto Cervantes in London and Berlin. Her work bridges theoretical research with practical classroom applications, making her a respected figure in language education.

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Frances HorganView profile

Professor

Royal College of Surgeons in IrelandIreland

Professor Frances Horgan is a distinguished academic and clinician at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), where she serves as Professor of Physiotherapy in the School of Physiotherapy. Appointed to her current position in 2022, she has progressed through the academic ranks at RCSI since commencing as a lecturer in 1999, becoming Senior Lecturer in 2005 and Associate Professor in 2016. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a senior physiotherapist in neurology and care of the elderly at Meath Hospital and Adelaide and Meath Hospital incorporating National Children's Hospital Tallaght Dublin. Her educational background includes a BSc in Physiotherapy, MSc Research, Postgraduate Diploma in Statistics, and PhD in Stroke Recovery Research from University of Dublin Trinity College. She also holds an MSc in Leadership and Management Development for Researchers, Diploma in Health Economics, and Postgraduate Diploma in Health Professions Education from RCSI. Professor Horgan is a multilingual scholar fluent in French and German, with conversational Italian. Professor Horgan's research program focuses on critical areas of healthcare including care of the elderly, falls prevention, stroke rehabilitation, and health services research. Her work examines the transition from hospital to home for stroke patients, rehabilitation needs of people with brain tumors, and implementation of community-based exercise programs for older adults. She employs various methodological approaches including realist reviews, co-design methodologies, and mixed-methods studies to address complex healthcare challenges. Her extensive publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output across high-impact journals in physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and health services research. Her recent work shows a strong focus on patient-centered care pathways, implementation science, and interdisciplinary approaches to rehabilitation across multiple conditions including stroke, cancer, and neurological disorders. National Teaching Hero Award 2020-21 RCSI President's Teaching Award (2018) As Course Director of the MSc in Neurology and Gerontology, Professor Horgan oversees a comprehensive program that prepares students for advanced practice in neurological and geriatric rehabilitation. She has supervised numerous thesis projects examining frailty, falls, stroke rehabilitation, and transitions of care. Her leadership extends to national initiatives including her role as founder member (since 1997), Secretary (1999-2009), and Chairperson (2009-2016) of the Irish Heart Foundation Council on Stroke, and as Vice Dean for Inter-professional Education at RCSI (2014-2018). Her current research includes the FaME Ireland evaluation study, BRAIN-RESTORE project, and StrokeCog-R pilot trial, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to advancing rehabilitation science and practice.

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Helene DahlströmView profile

Senior Lecturer

Mid Sweden UniversitySweden

Helene Dahlström serves as Senior Lecturer at Mid Sweden University's Department of Education in Sundsvall, holding a PhD with active research in literacy development, digital multimodality, and multilingual education. Her work spans preschool through higher education contexts with significant contributions to teacher training frameworks. Her research focuses on literacy acquisition in digital environments , examining how students utilize multimodal resources in text creation and how digital tools impact writing processes. Key interests include multilingual student agency, diversity awareness in educational settings, and social-emotional learning integration. Recent projects like HAND in HAND develop strategies for inclusive classrooms across European contexts. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent exploration of multimodal literacy across age groups, with growing emphasis on AI integration challenges for multilingual students and diversity-aware pedagogical frameworks . Her work bridges theoretical research with practical classroom applications, particularly in Swedish educational settings. Dahlström actively contributes to teacher development through projects fostering social-emotional competencies and critical consciousness. Her editorial work includes co-editing the 2021 special issue Didaktiska reflektioner - reflektioner om didaktik and developing the HAND:ET Programme for European teacher training. Her research methodology emphasizes student perspectives, examining agency in digital tool usage and meaning-making processes in multimodal compositions. Current work investigates AI's role in academic literacy development for second-language learners, reflecting evolving technological challenges in contemporary education.

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Olga KubińskaView profile

Associate Professor

University of GdańskPoland

Olga Kubińska is an Associate Professor at the University of Gdańsk's Faculty of Languages, Institute of English and American Studies, where she chairs the Division of English Language Translation Studies and heads the Postgraduate Programme in Translation Studies. With academic appointments since 1999 and promotion to Associate Professor in 2015, she maintains active roles in the Polish Shakespeare Association (President 2015-2018) and Polish Writers' Association (Secretary of Gdańsk Branch 2016-2021). Her research interests span Holocaust literature (particularly women's experiences and Polish-Jewish relations), early modern English literature, translation studies, utopian literature, and bilingual poetry. Her work explores memory representation in post-Holocaust contexts, scaffold narratives in Tudor-Stuart England, and the sociological dimensions of translation. She has pioneered project-based pedagogy in translator training and developed innovative approaches to participatory pedagogy. Kubińska's publications reveal a consistent focus on memory, translation, and cultural representation across 25+ years. Her recent work (2021-2024) shows increasing emphasis on decolonizing Holocaust memory, visual commemoration practices, and utopian memory spaces in Polish contexts. Earlier publications demonstrate foundational work on Shakespearean rhetoric, scaffold narratives, and conceptual blending in translation. Award of the Rector of the University of Gdańsk (2024, 2022) Medal of the Commission of National Education (2019) Literary Award of the City of Gdańsk (1995) Collective Award for Translation Studies innovation (2011) As a supervisor and academic leader , she has guided 5 doctoral theses to completion (including Maciej Kur's summa cum laude dissertation), reviewed 4 doctoral theses, and supervised over 150 MA/BA projects. Her grant leadership includes the NPRH project on utopian literature translation and research on Polish Holocaust memory spaces. She co-founded the 'Translating the Untranslatable' book series and serves on editorial boards for multiple peer-reviewed journals.

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