• PhD in Education, Queen's University Belfast, UK
• MDiv in Theology, Queen's University Belfast, UK
• MA Hons in Languages Interpreting and Translating (French and Russian), Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
• PGCHE in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Leeds Trinity University, UK

Helen Hanna is an Assistant Professor at the Department for Curriculum and Instruction, The Education University of Hong Kong. With a background in modern languages, theology, English language teaching and citizenship education, she is committed to cross-national interdisciplinary research in the context of education that is creative with research methods, with the best interests of learners and participants in mind. In terms of research, she is passionate about educational inclusion, particularly of migrant learners and those from racial, ethnic and cultural minorities. In terms of teaching and training, she focuses on supporting early career teachers and researchers to find their way in school and scholarly life, encouraging reflection on experiences. integrated with useful and practical concepts and theories to enhance their research, teaching and outreach.

Helen has previously worked as an educational consultant with organisations such as the British Council. She has completed externally-funded research in England, South Africa, Northern Ireland, Israel, Canada and Kenya and is a member of the Peer Review College for the Global Challenges Research Fund in the UK. She regularly presents at international conferences. Helen is a contributer to journals such as Compare: Journal of International and Comparative Education, Children’s Geographies and Intercultural Education, and is a committed peer reviewer, as well as a member of the Editorial Board of the British Journal of Educational Studies. She enjoys reaching out to non-academic audiences through writing accessible pieces for the British Educational Research Association’s Research Intelligence magazine and blog, The Conversation Africa and The Guardian Teacher Network, and designing creative outputs such as films with learners and teachers. Her first monograph was published in 2019, entitled Young People’s Rights in the Citizenship Education Classroom.

- Migration and education

- Refugee and displaced learners and academics

- Citizenship education

- Diversity and inclusion

- Education in divided societies

- Children's perspectives

- Creative visual research methods

- East Asia, South-east Asia, South Africa, England, Northern Ireland, Israel

- Curriculum studies

- Global education reform

- Qualitative research methods

- Supporting early career researchers (writing for publication, conferences, career planning)

2019-present: External advisor for the PhD programme in Multicultural Education at the Research Institute for Languages and Culture of Asia, Mahidol University, Thailand

2019-present: Appointed member of College of Reviewers, Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education

2018-present: Appointed member of International Development Peer Review College, UK Research and Innovation

2015-present: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy [UK]

2015-present: Editorial Board member for the British Journal of Educational Studies