Julie Waddington

Julie Waddington is an Associate Professor (Agregada Serra Húnter) in the Department of Specific Didactics at the Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Girona. She coordinates the English Language Teaching (ELT) area and teaches in the Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, and Master in Attention to Diversity in Inclusive Education programs. Her academic work integrates teaching, research, and educational innovation with a focus on language, identity, and inclusive pedagogies.

Her research interests center on foreign language learning in early years, children’s literature in language education, learner identity, and the application of Funds of Knowledge and Funds of Identity in multilingual classrooms. She investigates how cultural and linguistic diversity can be leveraged to promote equity and inclusion in education, challenging dominant narratives such as the 'native speaker' ideal in language teaching.

The trends in her recent publications reveal a strong commitment to decolonial and socially just language pedagogies, emphasizing child agency, teacher identity, and community-based knowledge. Her work spans early childhood to teacher education, with a consistent focus on identity, motivation, and inclusive practices in multilingual settings.

Scientific Contributions and Leadership:

• Coordinator of the Linguistic, Identity and Cultural Diversity research area within the Cultura i Educació research group
• Active member and promoter of the Funds of Knowledge International Alliance
• Founder and coordinator of the University of Girona’s English as a Medium of Teaching Innovation Network (ICE) since 2020

Julie Waddington advises research initiatives and leads collaborative educational projects, though specific student advisees are not listed. She has secured institutional support for innovation networks and contributes to curriculum development in inclusive and multilingual education. Her leadership roles reflect a strong engagement with both pedagogical practice and systemic transformation.

She is affiliated with the Institut de Recerca Educativa and conducts research within the Grup de Recerca en Cultura, Educació i Desenvolupament Humà, where she advances interdisciplinary work on culture, identity, and human development in educational contexts.