News

In early December 2025, the DEAR Centre welcomed esteemed academic Professor Catherine Manathunga. visiting from the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Prof Manathunga made time in her UK schedule to visit Warwick to present on "Knowledge Justice in the 21st Century".

Professor Catherine Manathunga is the Co-Director of the UniSC Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre and Professor of Education Research in the School of Education and Tertiary Access at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She is an Irish-Australian, non-Indigenous- ally researcher and proud transcultural mother and grandmother of Sri-Lankan-Irish-Australian children and grandchildren. Catherine is an historian who draws together expertise in historical, sociological and cultural studies research to bring an innovative perspective to educational research, particularly focusing on the higher education sector. She has worked for more than 30 years in universities throughout Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Alongside Prof Manathunga’s presentation was one from the DEAR Centre’s PhD student Evan Zheng presenting on "Mediating Merit: Ethics in Co-Producing Higher Education Applications with Education Agents". Evan is a third year PhD candidate in the Education Studies department here at Warwick and is funded by the Chancellor’s International Scholarship. Her research focuses on doctoral education and international student mobility. Before joining Warwick, Evan held various roles in China’s international education sector.