Staff Profile
Professor Arinola Adefila
Before joining Buckinghamshire New University in 2024, I was deputy director of Staffordshire Centre for Learning and Pedagogic Practice, at Staffordshire University. I worked in Research Centres at Coventry University for over a decade. I started my career as a teacher before turning to environmental consultancy where I developed a passion for community development. I studied geography and education because I wanted to support capacity building and human flourishing. I believe education is transformative with personal, societal and global ramifications. Social, cultural, economic and political change are channelled through the exponential power of education; accordingly, social policy carefully aligned to the configuration of learning environments supports human development. My first degree was in Geography Education at Ahmadu Bello University, I went on to study Global Ethics at the University of Birmingham before my PhD in Education at the University of Warwick. My interest in capacity development and community action led me to study Strategic Management at the Central European University, Hungary, and an MBA Community Economic Development at Cape Breton University in Canada.
I have volunteered in social care and civic society organisations for over 30 years. I studied a PG. Cert. Mediation & Democratic Dialogue developed by Benjamin Cardoso/Hamline School of Law USA and Central European University, Hungary, as well as PG. Cert. Level 7 Coaching and Mentoring accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) United Kingdom to develop my skills and competencies in Management and Policy Development. My specialist areas are in Sustainable Development Education and Lifelong Learning. Driven by my passion in education as a public good. My research has focused on understanding how pedagogy shapes experiences in and beyond educational spaces. I interrogate how education shapes societal ideas, constructs, and norms; and how the processes of education are in turn reshaped by ideas.
I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education academy and Vice Chair, Supporting Access, Success, and Progression for Vocational Learners working group National Education Opportunities Network. I serve on the Small Grants Committee, Staff and Educational Development Association. I am also a member of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, The British Education Research Association and National Association of Disability Practitioners.
My specialist knowledge has led me to work with businesses, advocates, activists, and civic organisations such as , and on projects such as BAORULA which encourage collaborative action to tackle complex global challenges.
My career highlight is ongoing work with colleagues from seven countries to protect indigenous African trees such as the baobab. The research facilitates the sustainable use of resources from such trees to develop new value webs of economic activity and to support innovative agroforestry practices, drawing from the rich cultural traditions of African knowledge systems and traditional sustainable practices.