Name: Dr Kyriaki Koukouraki
Organizational Affiliation: King’s College London
Director of Which Country: United Kingdom
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- Can you share a brief overview of your academic/professional journey and what led you to serve as a Country Director?
My career journey has never been a straightforward path. I began my professional life as a private tutor for German and a freelance translator and interpreter for German, Greek, and English and even as a project manager at a translation agency. Despite these varied roles, I always knew that my true calling was in academia. After completing my PhD at the Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz in Germany, I achieved my dream of becoming a lecturer. I secured my first academic position at the Department of Foreign Languages, Translation and Interpreting at the Ionian University, Corfu in Greece where I served as a lecturer and module leader for German/Greek translations. My academic journey then took me to New York College in Thessaloniki, Greece, where I taught translation studies and sociolinguistics. Although I enjoyed these subjects, my heart was always set on intercultural relations and competence, the focus of my doctoral research. In 2018 I joined King’s College London (KCL) in the UK where I hold the posts of lecturer in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and Cultural Competence (CC). In my latter role, I am also the programme lead for CC staff development. My expertise in intercultural matters has also led me to coordinate the ICC&Faculty working group at the World Council on Intercultural and Global Competence. Additionally, I serve on the scientific committee of the UNESCO Chair on Threats to the Cultural Heritage and Related Activities at the Ionian University in Greece. Since 2024, I have also taken on the role of Country Director for the United Kingdom of The Society of Transnational Academic Researchers (STAR).
- What do you find most fulfilling about your work in academia/profession?
For me, the most fulfilling aspect of my work in academia is being in contact with people who are eager to learn and expand their horizons, including myself. I particularly enjoy the knowledge exchange that occurs in the classroom during seminars and workshops, whether I am teaching students or conducting CPD sessions for colleagues.
Impact & Achievements
- Can you highlight a recent project, publication, or achievement that you’re particularly proud of?
I am particularly proud of an asynchronous CPD module that I designed for staff development around cultural competency. This module is available to any member of staff at King’s College London. It has been available for just about a year, and the uptake has been very positive, as well as the feedback. Designing this module gave me the opportunity to apply my knowledge and research around intercultural relations, intercultural communication, and intercultural competence, topics that I am passionate about.
- How has your work contributed to advancements in your field or impacted students/colleagues?
My work around intercultural competence, whether through extracurricular projects with students or CPD sessions for colleagues, has made this discipline more well-known to these audiences. My hands-on work in this field is contributing to transforming diversity into inclusivity and a sense of belonging on campus. For students, this means equipping them with the right tools and strategies to succeed in their future professional and personal lives in a more interconnected and diverse world. For colleagues, this means presenting them with additional teaching approaches or methodologies that will further enhance their successful teaching in a diverse classroom.
Country Director Vision and Engagement Opportunities
- What is your vision as the STAR Scholars Network Country Director for your country and the Cross-Border Initiatives?
As the STAR Scholars Network Country Director for the UK, my vision is to further promote intercultural competence within the field of education, encompassing education in its widest sense from primary to tertiary levels. To this end, I have already launched a webinar series on education, which aspires to invite researchers and practitioners not only from the UK but from around the world to share their expertise and personal approaches to education and/or intercultural competence. This webinar series is in collaboration with other country directors, which will, in turn, promote cross-border initiatives and foster closer collaboration within the STAR Scholars Network. This initiative will further increase diverse perspectives, particularly in the disciplinary fields of education and intercultural competence, by including perspectives from non-dominant, non-Western narratives. Equally, I am open to collaborations in other thematic areas and am welcoming anybody reaching out. I strive to increase the visibility of the STAR Scholars Network, its mission, and attract more people to this network to benefit from its global community and excellent training opportunities.
- How can students, practitioners, and scholars get involved in the STAR Scholars Network’s Cross-Border Initiatives?
The easiest way is to reach out to their respective country directors and suggest topics for international collaborations.
Advice & Insights
- What advice would you give to those wanting to get involved in the STAR Scholars Network?
There are many ways people can get involved in the STAR Scholars Network. One way is by exploring our website to understand our mission and activities. Engaging with our resources by reading publications and/or attending webinars to stay informed about global academic mobility and international education is another way. Moreover, people can participate in events such as conferences and symposiums to network with scholars and professionals in their disciplinary field and beyond. Additionally, people can contribute their work by submitting research to the journals or participating in essay contests to gain visibility and recognition. Finally, connecting with members through forums and social media can help build professional relationships with like-minded individuals. By actively engaging with the STAR Scholars Network, people can enhance their academic and professional journey while contributing to a global community of scholars.
Personal Perspectives
- Outside of work, what interests or activities help you maintain a balanced and fulfilling life?
The best way for me to maintain a balanced and fulfilling life is to frequently speak to my closest friends and family. Where and when possible I can relax and recharge my mental and physical batteries especially when I am around friends I cherish and share a meal with them. Otherwise, I found that listening to music, reading a book in nature, cooking and baking or painting is another way of balancing a stressful professional life.
- What else would you like to share with the STAR Scholars Network to get to know you the best we can?
My own personal and professional journey so far has taught me that we should never give up our dreams and goals. We never know when the time will come that we will be able to fulfill them. Or in the words of the poet C.P. Cavafy from his poem ‘Ithaka’ (1911): “Better if [the journey] lasts for years, so you’re old by the time you reach the island, wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way, not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.”