Alumnus Shan Ali is developing an impressive career across higher education and AI research. Graduating with a Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Studies where he received the Court Medal, Shan discusses his journey at UWS, his work in digital transformation, human-centred AI and his vision for the future of higher education.
What did receiving the UWS Court Medal mean to you?
Receiving the Court Medal was a tremendous honour; It recognised the hard work and dedication I put into my studies, but more importantly, it reinforced a belief that has been with me throughout my career – education matters most when learning can be translated into meaningful practice and used to create opportunities for others.
Tell us about your time at UWS.
I completed my MEd in Educational Studies with Distinction in 2026, and my experience at UWS allowed me to examine my own professional practice through a more critical lens, connecting educational theory with the realities of leadership, teaching and student experience. The programme challenged me academically while encouraging me to connect theory with real-world practice; that reflective approach has stayed with me.
What is your current role?
My career has already taken me across a range of areas within higher education, including teaching, academic leadership, quality assurance, student success, curriculum development and international education partnerships.
Today, I am a Senior Lecturer, Module Lead, and Internal Quality Verifier at Regent College London, with previous experience at Arden University. My current work involves designing and leading modules, developing assessments, ensuring academic standards, supporting students, and using data-informed approaches to improve outcomes.
Before moving into UK higher education, I led transnational education provision in Pakistan and helped secure, validate and establish partnerships with renowned UK universities and awarding bodies. Working across educational systems showed me that quality means more than compliance – it depends on meaningful learning opportunities and consistent student support.
Your recent research focuses heavily on artificial intelligence (AI). What drew you to this area?
My interest grew from a simple question: how can institutions adopt AI without losing human judgement or trust? I am undertaking doctoral research into responsible AI-enabled entrepreneurial marketing capability in business schools, comparing higher education contexts in the UK and Pakistan.
That work examines areas including student recruitment, stakeholder engagement, and digital communications, alongside the ethical and governance choices institutions face when using AI.
During 2025-26, I published five research papers, including two as first author, exploring AI governance, digital transformation and AI-enabled decision-making. I am particularly interested in how institutions turn promising technologies into responsible, practical improvements.
For me, meaningful transformation is not measured by how quickly technology is adopted, but by whether it strengthens decisions, accountability and the experiences of people it serves.
Alongside your research, you’re involved in wider conversations about equity and inclusion. Why is that important to you?
Having worked across the UK and Pakistan, I have seen why access, context and representation matter. I contribute as a collaborator and co-lead within the Equity, Inclusion and Global Justice Collab Lab at AI in Education, University of Oxford (AIEOU).
AI can create new opportunities, but it can also deepen existing inequalities if those affected are not heard. I want educational innovation to be designed with diverse learners and educators, not simply delivered to them.
How do you see your UWS experience influencing your career today?
The Court Medal recognised what I achieved as a student, but the real value of my time at UWS has been the ability to apply that learning in my career. Whether in classrooms, academic leadership roles, research projects, or international partnerships, the foundations I developed at UWS continue to shape my professional journey; thus, the Court Medal is a proud milestone, but the most lasting reward is putting that learning to work.
Finally, what excites you most about the future of higher education?
I am excited by the possibility of making higher education more personalised, accessible and connected to a changing world. The most important question isn’t simply what AI can do; it is what higher education should become as AI is integrated into everyday teaching, decision-making and organisational systems.
The institutions that thrive will be those that combine innovation with human judgement, academic integrity and genuine inclusion – that is the future I want to help shape.