Ourania Katsara, PhD is a Senior Teaching Fellow in English for Specific and Academic Purposes (ESP/EAP) in University of Patras, Greece. She holds a BA in English Language and English and European Literature (University of Essex, UK), an MA in Applied Linguistics (University of Essex, UK) and a PhD in International Education. Her PhD thesis title is ‘Greek students in UK Universities: a support strategy’ (University of Brighton, UK) was supported by a small grant for research and
development from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) formerly UK Council for Overseas Students Affairs (UKCOSA). In June 2022, she became a STAR-certified research scholar and received training on social and environmental justice.
She has 20 years of experience in teaching ESP/EAP in Greek universities and has taught ESP/EAP on pre-sessional summer courses in UK Universities assisting international students in acclimatizing academically to university settings outside of their native country. Her research focuses on ESP/EAP, intercultural communication, international education, internationalization of the curriculum (IoC),
internationalization at home (IaH), culturally responsive pedagogy, student mobility. She aims to design appropriate teaching methodologies and curricula that suit the needs of both Greek and international students studying in tertiary education. Her work embraces the recommendation put forward by Council of Europe, which dictates that universities should strive to design teaching activities and programs that foster the exchange of views of individuals of different backgrounds. Students should be trained to become both world citizens and professionals.
I am very much interested in the study on international students and I am keen on connecting with leaders and researchers all over the world. It’s an honor to be part of the STAR community and I am especially interested in designing approaches that sensitize on diversity contributing thus to society and the global common good.
Email: okatsara@upatras.gr