Ugo Marsili

Ugo Marsili is an Associate Professor in the Department of Languages and Cultures at the University of Reading. He serves as the Departmental Lead for Disabilities Awareness and the British Sign Language (BSL) Lead for Languages for All. He teaches Italian and Spanish across both degree and non-degree programs, and delivers training in intercultural communication, inclusive teaching, and audio-visual translation. He is also an External Examiner for Italian and BSL at Imperial College London and the University of Bristol.

His research centers on inclusive pedagogy, multilingualism, and accessibility, particularly the integration of signed and spoken languages in education. He investigates how emotions, memory, and language retention intersect in learning, and how audio-visual translation (such as audio description and subtitles) supports inclusive education. His work extends to public accessibility in commercial buildings and cultural institutions.

Ugo leads several international, EU-funded projects promoting Deaf and Blind awareness and training educators as audio-visual translators. His recent research includes aligning BSL assessment criteria with the CEFR, developing BSL courses for higher education professionals, and enhancing wayfinding in built environments through audio description. His publications and conference presentations reflect a strong commitment to inclusive design and pedagogical innovation across disciplines.

Scientific Awards and Honours:

• University of Reading Endowment Fund (2024) - For BSL assessment project
• Rewarding Excellence Award (2019)
• Diversity and Inclusion Fund (2019 and 2017)
• Outstanding Contribution Award (2017)
• Teaching Excellence Award (2016)

Advising and Grants: Ugo leads a student-partnership research project funded by the University of Reading Endowment Fund and has secured competitive funding through the Diversity and Inclusion Fund for inclusive wayfinding and dyslexia support initiatives. He actively mentors students through the BSL Student-Led Club and collaborates across departments and institutions to promote inclusive practices.

Labs and Teams: He co-leads interdisciplinary teams including the 'Inclusive Way Hackathon' involving the School of Construction Management & Engineering, Real Estate, Typography, and Architecture. He is a member of the Breaking Down Barriers (BdB) staff group, the Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism (CELM), and collaborates with international partners in Poland, Latvia, Georgia, and Moldova.