Verity Aiken

Verity Aiken is a Senior Lecturer in Education Studies at the School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University (NTU), and serves as Course Leader for the Doctorate in Education. She contributes to modules in Academic Studies in Education and Professional Education, with a career spanning Higher Education (HE), Further Education (FE), and adult education sectors. Her research focuses on student writing as a lens to explore the student experience, informed by Academic Literacies and sociological risk theories.

• Education Background: Doctorate in Education (EdD) from NTU.
• Research Interests: Academic Literacies, sociological risk theories, student agency, and the impact of institutional policies on writing practices.

Verity’s work includes analyzing writing in consumer-based HE systems and exploring pandemic-era challenges in scholarly publishing and student writing. She has presented widely at conferences such as the Social Research in Higher Education annual conference and the European Association for the Teaching of Academic Writing. Her publications span journals like Teaching in Higher Education and edited volumes addressing gendered experiences in academia.

• Awards:
  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Member of British Educational Research Association
  • Co-author of i-guides recognized as an exemplar in LLiDA wiki

She has served as External Examiner for University of Central Lancashire and External Reader for Trinity Saint David, contributing to program development in inclusive education. Her pedagogical innovations include 'writing retreats' and collaborative models like the Dissertation Club, emphasizing accessibility and student advocacy.