Fatih Aktas

Fatih Aktas is a Lecturer at the Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, affiliated with the Institute for Education, Community & Society (IECS). He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative and International Education from Lehigh University (2017) and an M.A. with Fulbright Scholarship support (2013). His research focuses on comparative education policy, creativity in higher education, globalization's impact on education systems, and sustainable development goals in educational contexts.

Education:

• Ph.D., Comparative and International Education, Lehigh University (2017)
• M.A., Comparative and International Education, Lehigh University (2013)
• B.S., Computer Science Teaching, Firat University (2010)
• Intensive English Training, Florida State University (2011)

Research interests emphasize global education policy dynamics, creativity as an academic discipline, and the interplay between education systems and sustainable development. He explores how globalization shapes policy transfers and institutional responses to educational challenges.

Recent work includes a major study on the impacts of school closures during the pandemic (funded by the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry) and analyses of podcasting's role in education dissemination (e.g., FreshEd podcast collaboration). His 2021 publication in Higher Education Quarterly examines creativity's institutionalization in universities.

Awards & Affiliations:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• Fulbright Scholar (2013)
• Member: Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), British Association for International & Comparative Education

Teaching & Grants:

• Supervises master's/PhD research in comparative education policy, higher education innovation, and qualitative methodologies
• Current Grant (2023-2024): £28,050 for pandemic school closure analysis
• Past Grant (2022-2023): £4,993 for podcast pedagogy research

Labs/Teams: Active contributor to the Institute for Education, Community & Society’s research network, collaborating on global education policy projects and interdisciplinary initiatives.