Email: nm1m21@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44 7467 676522
I am Nalini Murugaiyah, a Ph.D. by research student currently doing research for a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Southampton, England, UK. I’m a Malaysian scholar who funded by Ministry of Education Malaysia under Program Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan (HLP) Year 2020 intake.
I have always had an interest in projects that are interdisciplinary, and which also foster a broad, social-political dialogue; I have participated in few internship programs which involved international schools and found studies about international students and community, satisfy my intellectual curiosity, and provide meaningful foundation.
My study entitled Culturally Responsive School Leadership in Indigenous Schools in Malaysia is closely monitoring by two supervisors from Southampton Education School, Dr Cristina Marta Azaola and Professor Dr Christian Bokhove since September, 2021.
My study focuses on fieldwork with Indigenous (Orang Asli) schools’ leaders, teachers, parents and students in Pahang, Malaysia. The qualitative research study will produce an in-depth description and analysis of the ways in which indigenous (Orang Asli) schools’ leaders, teachers, parents and students conceptualise the meaning of culturally responsive school environment. Its major objective is to further understand the leadership practices that are relevant and responsive to Orang Asli students. Culturally responsive school environment and culturally responsive school leadership are incorporated in this study. As a qualitative researcher embracing the cultural diversity, my passion is to hear the voice of the often-voiceless students and parents in the Orang Asli community and create an action plan to meeting the students’ needs by help of culturally responsive school leadership. The research done here can improve equity, culturally responsive school leadership and culturally responsive school environment overall.
Before embarking into a new journey as a Postgraduate research student at the University of Southampton, I was teaching in a public school in Malaysia. My expertise are in delivering the contents of Science as one of the main subjects in Malaysian educational curriculum. I was also has contributed in designing and translating the revised curriculum documents for Science subject for primary school children under the surveillance of Ministry of Education Malaysia. Meanwhile, I took a serious contribution in practising the students for science competitions at state and national level in Malaysia.
My view of Education is that of a reformist. I have a particular interest in the improvement of international students English Language skills. I have a huge interest in the education structure and techniques that’s has been redefined to ease any vulnerabilities caused. Because of my own experience being linguistic teacher ever since I was posted in 2011, I know the feeling of teaching international students with lack of facilities and the amount of proper education lacked due to some circumstances. I have helped develop language skills in students by serving as an example of how far you can go in education with dedication and hard work.
In February 2019, I had completed my postgraduate degree in Educational Administration. As a student in the National University of Malaysia (UKM), my concerns were mostly focused on critical theory, cultural studies, and social discourse, built into the wide- ranging, cross-cultural framework of comparative studies. In addition, the rigorous graduate curriculum in National University of Malaysia placed a strong emphasis on individual research and intensive academic writing to prepare me for Ph.D.-level studies. As a student, I find myself consistently engaged with the intersection of politics, literature, and critical theory.
I also have a particular interest in education structure and techniques that has been refined to ease the teaching practices. As a student, I find myself always consistently engage with the intersection of globalization, literature and in education policies. I have always had an interest in projects that are interdisciplinary, and which also foster a broad social-political dialogue.