Dr Naima Iftikhar

Biography

My teaching practice is internationally recognised through the AFHEA and the AFHEA (Indigenous)UK. I have proven my mettle and versatile ability to lead, design, develop and deliver learning and teaching experiences, at both the undergraduate and post graduate levels. I have 7 years of learning and teaching experience, engaging more than 3500 students, in the spatial design disciplines (Architecture, Fashion, Furniture, Interior, Landscape, Visual, Interactive, Product Designs). My teaching experience evidences my teaching expertise by showcasing the range of multidisciplinary and diverse learning and teaching responsibilities, I have performed. I have delivered 31 units/subjects at:

• Faculty of Liberal Arts, Beaconhouse National University (BNUSA), Lahore, Pakistan;
• Furniture Design Department, Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD), Lahore, Pakistan;
• School of Design and School of Architecture and Built Environment, Creative Industries Faculty and Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia.

I won a commendable STARS (Sessional Teaching and Reflection Showcase) Award at QUT in 2017, for learning and teaching innovations for first year architecture design studios.  I am passionate about optimising pedagogical experiences of learners and teachers in the higher education sector through research and innovative teaching practises. My PhD research with the School of Design, Creative Industries Faculty at QUT, titled ' A model for contemporary learning of architectural design in Australia'  verifies and extends Laurillard's Conversational Framework to showcase how design learning can be optimised in the Australasian University Studio Model at the undergraduate level. I have demonstrated the production of impactful research outcomes in the scholarship of learning and teaching in higher education.  I have participated in international conferences related to higher education research, which include, the International Academic Forum (IAFOR), European Conference on Education (ECE) and the Association of Architectural Education (AAE) in Brighton, Tokyo and London respectively. My recent Q1 publication related to the optimised roles delivery of learners and teachers in contemporary design studios in Australasian higher education has been published with Archnet-IJAR. I have proven acumen to support and build teaching excellence in international sessional teachers’ teaching abilities in a tertiary educational environment, as an International Sessional Academic Success (ISAS) Advisor for Learning and Teaching Unit (LTU), QUT, for the year 2018. I delivered contextual and collegial support to about 350 International sessionals working across all faculties engaging diverse students through my initiatives including professional development workshops. My monthly newsletter as part of this LTU role titled 'Sessional Diaries' showcased pedagogical success stories from diverse faculties and can be accessed here. I have practised as an Architect in Pakistan, where I collaborated with industry stakeholders to execute clients' projects (residential and commercial in nature) on time. As a committee member of EMAGN (Emerging Architects and Graduates Network - Australian Institute of Architects) Qld (2021-2023), I am delivering initiatives around Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, to bring researchers and academics on the gendered challenges in our professional practises, educational institutes and the design of learning and built environments. I have been involved in research projects as a post-doctoral researcher in collaboration with academics at QUT, as follows:

• Category 1 Grant Funded Project - Integrated Design Studio 13 and 14 Studies with i-HUB Australia in collaboration with University of Melbourne, University of Wollongong, AIRAH and ARENA (more information on the project can be accessed here)
• Future of Post-Pandemic Hospital Designs - Commercial Research (Australia-wide Study)
• AASA (Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia) Climate Literacy Study (Australasia-wide Study)
• Association of Consulting Architects (ACA) Salary Survey (Australia-wide Study).