Zhen Li

Dr. Zhen Li serves as Associate Professor in Higher Education at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China's School of Education and English, with a sustained research career since 2008 focusing on international education systems and sociological dimensions of learning. Holding a PhD from the University of Southampton on Chinese adult e-learners' experiences, Dr. Li contributes to global educational discourse through comparative studies of Chinese and UK higher education contexts.

Dr. Li's educational foundation includes:

• PhD in Making our way through the e-World: Chinese adult e-learners' learning experiences, University of Southampton

Research centers on International Higher Education, Sociology of education, Gender and career choice dynamics, Lifelong learning systems, and Technology-enhanced student experiences, with recent work employing critical realism to analyze graduate employability frameworks and security concerns of mobile students. The fingerprint reveals strong engagement with Chinese educational contexts, UK university systems, and foreign student experiences.

Publication trends since 2022 demonstrate increasing focus on practical applications: examining capitals approach in labor markets, inclusion barriers in later-life learning, and identity threats for internationally mobile students. This trajectory shows methodological sophistication through critical realism while addressing urgent issues in global education.

Dr. Li actively supervises within the MA International Higher Education and Education Doctoral Programme, with research output indicating strong international collaboration patterns. The publication record (16 outputs, h-index 6) reflects consistent scholarly contribution, particularly through co-authorships with European and Commonwealth researchers on comparative educational studies.