Faiza Iftikhar

Position
Staff
Job title
Research Assistant (People Centred Design)

About me

I am an experienced designer and researcher with a focus on creating inclusive, accessible experiences for diverse audiences through research, experimentation, and design thinking. My professional journey spans multiple industries, including textile product design and customer service management, and now focuses on rethinking and designing curriculum strategies to support equity and accessibility in higher education.
 
In my current role at the University of Leeds as part of the Curriculum Redefined programme, I bring a people-centered approach to re-thinking educational strategies that meet the evolving needs of our student body. I am committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles into the learning design process, ensuring that all students—regardless of background—can thrive.

Moreover, I am also a fellow at Leeds through the Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence until September 2025. My research project focuses on improving the engagement between students and academic staff in higher education, with the goal of creating an environment where students and staff can interact more effectively and understand each other better.

How I can help

I can support colleagues in researching and designing inclusive, equitable, and student-centered learning environments. This includes, for example, improving assessment and feedback methods, fostering skills development, and creating opportunities to make the hidden curriculum visible. My work within the Curriculum Redefined project spans across faculties, with a strong focus on Experiential Learning.

Contact

Email Faiza at the Learning Design Team: learningdesign@leeds.ac.uk