Pura Ariza

Pura Ariza is a Senior Lecturer in Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), part of the Faculty of Health and Education. Before joining MMU in 2002, she taught French, Spanish, and SEN (Special Educational Needs) in secondary schools and contributed to local authority projects in curriculum development and teacher training. She has coordinated initiatives such as the TDA-funded European Primary Exchange Programme and led teacher-training components of the HEFCE-funded 'Community and Lesser Taught Languages Project,' which earned the European Award for Languages in 2010. Her research focuses on bilingual learners, equality in education, and community languages.

Currently, she teaches on the Secondary PGCE Programme, coordinates Professional Practice modules, and supervises Masters dissertations. She has held roles as a research fellow and project manager, including the 'Refugees into Teaching' project funded by the Refugee Council. Pura is also an active member of the National Centre for Languages (CILT) advisory group and a trade unionist.

Her professional contributions span teacher training, curriculum development, and advocacy for inclusive education, with a strong emphasis on community languages and educational equity.