TCELT Research Seminar - 14 December 2023

Dr Susan Atkinson is an Associate Professor in early childhood in the College of Education, United Arab Emirates University. She has previously worked in Higher Education in the fields of psychology and early years education at Leeds Beckett University, Bradford University, University of Central Lancashire and The Open University. She began her career as an early years teacher in London; she has also worked as a Learning Support Teacher with children in mainstream primary schools in Cambridgeshire, and as an early years teacher at an international school in Luxembourg. She has research interests in young children’s cognitive development, and the transition to school. She is currently researching transitions to university for students and their families with Professor Jindal-Snape.

Transitions at any point in the life cycle may be either positive, negative or a combination of both. I present here an autoethnographic account of my experiences making the transition from living and working in the UK to living and working in the UAE. This story considers the impact of the transition on myself, my family, friends and colleagues in both the UK and UAE within the MMT framework. I reflect on the factors which supported or mitigated the effects of the transition which may be useful to others embarking on a similar adventure.

Venue: Main Library, in the Europe room on the ground floor