Richard Silburn

Richard Silburn serves as Deputy Head of the School of English and Director of the Language Centre at Manchester Metropolitan University. With over 15 years of international teaching experience across Japan, Greece, Austria, China, and the UK, he specializes in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP). His leadership spans program development, academic management, and international partnership building, including previous roles as Head of the Centre for English Language Education at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China.

His academic qualifications include:

• MA English Language Teaching from the University of Essex
• Trinity Certificate in TESOL from Colchester Institute
• BA History and War Studies from King's College London

Richard's research focuses on EAP curriculum innovation, international program adaptation, and refugee education support. His work addresses critical challenges in pre-sessional program revitalization, functional syllabi implementation, and large-scale ESAP development. He emphasizes practical solutions for diverse academic contexts, particularly in international branch campuses and cross-cultural educational environments. His approach integrates student experience enhancement with rigorous academic standards.

Analysis of his 2012-2018 conference presentations reveals consistent thematic threads: EAP program evolution in Chinese higher education contexts, student experience optimization through tailored language support, and innovative syllabus design for academic writing. His work demonstrates particular expertise in adapting Western EAP models to Asian educational frameworks while maintaining academic integrity. Key trends include stakeholder engagement strategies, sustainability planning for language programs, and measurement of pedagogical impact on student outcomes.

Richard actively contributes to community initiatives through a partnership with Breaking Barriers (formerly Refuaid), providing:

• Specialized IELTS preparation for refugees
• Academic Skills training for asylum seekers
• Pathways to UK higher education
• Employment readiness programs

He maintains active membership in professional associations including English UK, BALEAP (British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes), and IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language).