Personal statement

Vandana is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for the International Development and Education (IDE) degree. Her work explores the intersections of gender, race, class, and caste and their impact on educational outcomes. She specialises in Capability Theory, Critical Pedagogy, Feminist Theory, Decolonial and Postcolonial Studies, critically challenging Eurocentric knowledge systems and amplifying the marginalised voices.

Vandana's present research investigates barriers to quality education and labour market access in a number of countries in South Asia with a specific focus on Nepal and India. Methodologically, her research is guided by Interpretivism, which emphasises understanding individuals' subjective meanings and lived experiences within their social and cultural contexts. This approach is complemented by Feminist and decolonial Epistemologies, which prioritise the perspectives of marginalised women and girls.

Vandana's extensive experience in education and research brings a unique perspective to her work, and she is dedicated to advancing our understanding of various disparities in the African and South Asian education systems through innovative co-creative approaches. Her teaching and research contribute towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 4 Quality Education, 5 Gender Equality, 3 Good Health and well-being and 10 Reduced Inequalities.

Languages spoken

  • English
  • Hindi
  • Punjabi
  • Nepali

Academic qualifications

  • PhD in Education – University of Bath, England. Vandana focused on gendered capabilities and primary schooling in Northern India. Her doctoral research examined ethnographic case studies using photo-elicitation methods to uncover gender biases in pedagogic practices and offer policy recommendations aligned with SDGs 4 and 5.
  • MA Education and International Development – UCL Institute of Education, London. Vandana critically analysed the implementation of India's Right to Education Act (2009) in elite private schools in North India.
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) – Bath Spa University, Bath, England
  • Bachelor of Education (BEd) – Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow, India
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) – Sophia College, Ajmer, India.

Professional memberships

Vandana is an active member of several professional networks, including:

  • British Education Research Association (BERA)
  • British Association for International and Comparative Education (BAICE)
  • Comparative and International Education Society (CIES)
  • Development Studies Association (DSA)
  • Fellowship of Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
  • Feminist Activists & Scholars in North Atlantic (FASiNA)
  • Gender and Education Association (G&EA)
  • Human Development and Capability Association (HDCA) Agency, Well-Being and Justice

Teaching specialisms

Vandana has extensive experience in teaching and curriculum development, with a focus on social theory, gender, and international development.

At Bath Spa University, she has designed and delivered modules such as Social Theory and Development, Gender and Education, Education and Sustainable Development, and Education, Social Inequalities, and Social Justice.

Vandana's innovative pedagogical approaches, including the use of action campaigns, poster presentations, and blog writing, have significantly enhanced student engagement and satisfaction.

In addition to her undergraduate teaching, Vandana has co-convened and delivered graduate modules such as Places and Spaces in Education at the University of Bath, where she has received outstanding feedback for her teaching effectiveness and inclusive course design.

Research supervision

Vandana is interested in supervising issues related to social justice, gender equity, educational policies, and educational inequalities.

Her mentorship has been instrumental in fostering critical thinking and research skills among students and contributing to the academic and professional development of the next generation of scholars.

Research grants and awards

Vandana has secured several research grants, demonstrating her ability to lead impactful projects. Notable grants include:

  • Principal Investigator, Nepali GenderEquiPact: Empowering Girls in Education and Policy (AHRC/Bath Spa University, 2024–2025).
  • Principal Investigator, Decolonial and Feminist Research Methodology Study Group (HEQR/SoE, Bath Spa University, 2024).
  • Co-Investigator, BAICE Thematic Forum Grant (2021–2024), exploring multi-stakeholder perspectives on Comparative and International Education during global emergencies.
  • Early Career Researcher, Co-Creation Project in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2018–2020), focusing on marginalised communities and participatory methodologies.
  • Finalist for the Ede & Ravenscroft Postgraduate Research Student Prize (2019) for outstanding postgraduate research (PhD).
  • Awarded Santander Mobility Fund UK (2019) for presenting at ECER 2019, Hamburg, Germany.
  • Hands-on training on publishing articles (2018), Awarding Body: Doctoral college training fund, University of Bath.

These projects highlight Vandana's expertise in securing funding and leading interdisciplinary research initiatives with significant policy implications.

Conference presentations

Vandana has presented her research at numerous international conferences, including:

  • Guest Lecture and Workshop Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics in Educational Research, at the Department of Education, Pokhara University, Pokhara, Nepal, 2024.
  • Guest Lecture and Workshop on Co-Creation and Photo Elicitation Interviews, at the Department of Education and CALEM, Panjab University, Chandigarh India, 2024.
  • Workshop on Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics in Educational Research, at the Department of Education, Panjab University, Chandigarh India, 2023.
  • Guest Lecture on Conceptualising Co-Creation as a Methodology (Co-Creation Project) at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) Chandigarh India, 2023.
  • Application of Capability Approach, Amartya Sen's conceptual framework. Bath Spa University's 'lunch time seminar series' – 25th November 2020.
  • Sixth Annual Qualitative Research Symposium (QRS) 2020, University of Bath, UK – 29th January 2020.
  • Fifth Annual Qualitative Research Symposium (QRS) 2019, University of Bath, UK – 30th January 2019.
  • European Conference on Educational Research (ECER), Hamburg, 2019.
  • Oxford Ethnography and Education Conference, Oxford University, 2019.
  • Gender and Education Association International Conference, Portsmouth University 2019.
  • North Atlantic Feminist Studies Consortium, Portland, USA, 2018.

Her presentations have consistently addressed critical issues in gender, education, and international development, contributing to academic discourse and policy debates.

Leadership and impact

As Programme Leader for Undergraduate Studies in Education and International Development at Bath Spa University, Vandana has demonstrated exceptional leadership. She has fostered collaborative relationships across departments, resulting in an 89% improvement in strategic alignment.

Her innovative curriculum development initiatives have boosted student engagement by 49%, while their partnerships with international higher education institutions in Nepal and India have enriched knowledge exchange and research opportunities.