Dr. Fella Lahmar is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). She is a Research Associate at the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). She worked as a Ph.D. supervisor at the University of Bolton and led both MA Islamic Studies and MEd Education programs at the Markfield Institute of Higher Education, validated by Newman University, Birmingham. She also worked as a Research Associate on an international higher education project at the University of Nottingham. Prior to joining the Higher Education accredited sector, Fella gained ample experience as a lecturer and academic adviser at other non-accredited Islamic-based higher education institutions in the UK. Her teaching experience also involves teaching at Muslim schools, masjids, and other community organizations, including leading ‘Alimiyyah programs.
Fella’s broader research interest explores intersections between philosophy of education, policy making in education, educational leadership, Islamic education, migration, and identity formation. She has published on Islamic educational theory and practice, including higher education. Her Ph.D. and follow-up research examines Islamic education in Western contexts. She is a guest co-editor for the peer-reviewed journal: Religions’ special issue on Islamic education in Western Contexts.
In terms of education, Fella has a Ph.D. in education and an ESRC-recognized MA in Educational Research Methods, both obtained at the University of Nottingham, a PGCert in Higher Education Practice (Newman University); an MA in Islamic Studies (Loughborough University); a PGCert in Professional Studies in Education (Open University); and a BA in Islamic Studies (Emir Abdelkader Islamic University in Algeria).