Q&A with Lynn Ang
Lynn Ang is Professor of Early Childhood Education and a distinguished academic leader in Higher Education.
Lynn is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts (FRSA) and Fellow of the Academy of Social Science (FAcSS), which recognises her significant and sustained research contributions to Education and the wider Social Sciences. Lynn is also a recipient of the prestigious National Teaching Fellowship (NTF) award (2025) in recognition of her outstanding contributions to higher education and academic practice in the UK and internationally.
Roles at UCL
Professor Lynn Ang has successfully completed several senior academic leadership roles at scale over the last decade. From 2021 to 2026, Lynn served as Pro-Director and Vice-Dean Research at UCL Institute of Education, where she led the faculty’s overall research strategy and oversaw all research-related areas, including impact and engagement, the Centre for Doctoral Education, and an annual research income portfolio exceeding £59 million. Lynn was also Head of Department, Learning and Leadership (2019-2022), Chair of UCL Research Ethics Committee for over seven years (2016-2023), and Head of Ethics and Governance (2015-2018). Over 2021-22, Professor Ang held two senior roles concurrently as Pro-Director Research and Head of Department to provide steady leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Chair of UCL Research Ethics Committee (2016-2023)…
I oversaw the governance of research ethics across UCL. I led a multi-faculty ethics committee which has strategic oversight of maintaining the highest ethical standards of research that promote the values of transparency, accountability, mutual respect, and fairness. These high standards are essential for ensuring the highest quality of research at UCL.
During my time as Chair of UCL Research Ethics Committee, I had the privilege of working closely with a diverse community of researchers across UCL and gained valuable insights into research studies spanning a wide range of disciplines. I was – and continue to be – deeply impressed by the breadth and scale of UCL’s research, from Medical Sciences to Arts, Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences, and by the myriad ways in which pioneering research can benefit both participants and society.
It was an honour serving as Chair and to lead such an important institutional function as research ethics. The role carried significant responsibility in arbitrating and resolving complex ethical issues, but it was also immensely rewarding. It provided me the opportunity to engage with a remarkable community of researchers, academics, and professional services staff who place ethics and integrity at the heart of all that we do.
As Pro-Director and Vice-Dean Research at UCL Institute of Education (2021 to 2026)…
It has been the privilege of my career to serve as Pro-Director and Vice-Dean Research at UCL Institute of Education (IOE). Over the five years of my tenure, I led the faculty’s research vision and strategy in driving research excellence and fostering an inclusive and diverse research culture and environment. I led the strategic development of the faculty’s research portfolio, sustaining strong research performance through year-on-year growth in research income and the cultivation of a thriving and collaborative research culture.
The achievements which I am most proud of during my service as Vice-Dean Research are the introduction of the IOE Research Strategic Plan 2022-27, the Early Career Impact Fellowship scheme, the IOE Impact Stories series, and leading the IOE’s strategy for REF2029 while maintaining its core values and ambitions.
My greatest joy as Vice-Dean Research has been the opportunity to work alongside, and learn from, exceptionally talented and dedicated colleagues across the faculty’s research, academic, and professional services teams.
As Head of Department of Learning and Leadership (2019-2022)…
It was an honour to serve as Head of the Department of Learning and Leadership (DLL). During my tenure, I led a department comprising more than 300 academic staff and 4,000 students across undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research programmes, including ITE (initial teacher-education) and Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) provision, as well as five flagship research centres.
As Head of Department, I led an all-staff consultation to develop a new strategic vision for the department to ‘lead the way in Research and Teaching Excellence, with the integration of Enterprise and Innovation’ and substantially increased the department’s contribution levels from c12% to 43% over four years. I also established and led the department’s first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy for the IOE Athena Swan Bronze action plan. I found it immensely rewarding to have led such a talented department, and I continue to contribute as a senior professorial member of DLL, which remains my academic home.
Research
What is the focus of your research?
My research interest is in the field of early childhood and primary education, early learning and international evidence-based research particularly in developing countries. The early years from birth to primary schooling is a critical phase that lays the foundation for a child’s future development.
I hope my research will make a difference to improving the quality of education and care that children experience especially for those who are most vulnerable and disadvantaged."
Tell us about a project you are working now.
One of the exciting projects I am working on is a UKRI-GCRF Action Against Stunting Research Hub 2019-2024. This is a large-scale interdisciplinary project involving eighteen institutions in the UK and overseas. The project tackles the most intractable global challenge of child stunting by seeking to provide solutions for those children impacted by stunting and who face the challenge of education and cognitive impediment. This is a multi-site project working with country partners in Senegal, India and Indonesia.
Teaching
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your students?
Never be afraid to ask when you don’t know something! Learning is all about having a curious mind and finding the answers to questions even when there are no easy answers.
Teaching remains one of my greatest pleasures."
I started my professional journey as a kindergarten and primary school teacher, and teaching continues to be a passion throughout my career. I have worked with many students from all over the world at all levels from access courses (pre-undergraduate), undergraduate, Masters to Doctoral students.
What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my work in the field of early childhood and primary education working with teachers, children and families on impact-driven research using participatory and ethical methodological approaches.
The culmination of my work led to a special invitation at a high level Ministerial event at the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 on the ‘Leave no girl behind’ campaign, and a keynote lecture on the Global Agenda for Early Childhood Education at the 60th Anniversary Conference of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, London in January 2020.
I was delighted to be conferred Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts (FRSA) in 2026 and Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) in 2022 in recognition of my outstanding contribution to the Education and Social Sciences disciplines. I was also thrilled to be awarded Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) in 2021 and National Teaching Fellow in 2025 for my sustained contribution to teaching and academic practice in higher education. It is truly an honour to receive these awards, and I hope my work will continue to have an impact in ways that will have a deep and lasting benefit for my students, peers and the academic field.
You hold a National Teaching Fellowship Award from Advance HE – has this helped you teach differently?
I was deeply honoured to receive the National Teaching Fellowship Award in 2025. At the heart of my career over the last twenty-five years is a commitment to research-informed education and bridging the gap between educational practice and academic research. My work is guided by the principle that meaningful learning and impact happen when evidence, practice and policy inform one another. Receiving the National Teaching Fellowship award has further inspired me to continue championing excellence and innovation in teaching and learning, and to enrich the student experience.
Life
What might it surprise people to know about you?
I lived in Scotland for eight years and have very fond memories of my time there. I completed my PhD at the University of Stirling and took up my first academic job at the university. I also taught at Stirling and Falkirk Higher Education college where I tutored trainee students at their placements in early years settings in villages and towns around Scotland such as Perth and Crainlarich. I used to enjoy the scenic drives and always took the day out to visit my students!
What advice would you give your younger self?
Enjoy your youth as life passes all too quickly as one gets older!
What is your favourite place?
Being at home spending time with my family.
Last updated on 13 May 2026.