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ASST. PROF. DR. ALAN ALI SAEED
CURRENT POSITION
Assistant/Associate Professor of English, Department of English, College of Languages, University of Sulaimani.
PERSONAL DETAILS
D.O.B December 9th, 1981
Nationality: British/ Iraqi dual nationality
Tel: +964(0)7701558181
Emails: Alan.Ali.Saeed@gmail.com; alan.asaeed@univsul.edu.iq
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-ali-saeed-6389a427/
Sulaimani University Profile: https://sites.google.com/a/univsul.edu.iq/alan-ali-saeed/
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5885-5832
Academia Edu: https://sulaimaniu.academia.edu/AlanAliSaeed
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alan-Ali-Saeed
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=_O42e7QAAAAJ
EDUCATION
University of Falmouth, Cornwall, UK https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/ PGCHE (Online Teaching and Learning) Sept. 2020 – June 2021. Awarded 2021.
Brunel University, London, UK http://www.brunel.ac.uk/ PhD entitled 'Liberties and Licences': Gender, Stream of Consciousness and the Philosophy of Henri Bergson and William James in Selected Female Modernist Fiction 1914-1929. (Oct. 2011 – Sept. 2016). Awarded 2016.
Institute of English Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London, http://www.sas.ac.uk/ MA in National and International Literatures in English. (Oct. 2007 – Sept. 2009). Awarded 2009 with Merit.
English Department, University of Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan, (Oct. 2000 – July 2005). http://univsul.edu.iq/en/ BA in English Language and Literature, College of Languages. Awarded with 65% grade.
Halkawt Preparatory School, in Sulaimani Iraq. Graduated with Baccalaureate (High School Diploma) (Sept. 1996 – Jul. 2000) Awarded: 75 %.
Ph.D. Thesis
Title: ‘Liberties and licences’: gender, stream of consciousness and the philosophy of Henri Bergson and William James in selected female modernist fiction 1914-1929. Ph.D. Award 2016. Brunel University London.
Director of Studies, Prof. Philip Tew; second supervisor, Prof. Nick Hubble.
External Examiner: Prof. Helen Carr (Goldsmiths College, London University).
Online DOI: https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/13582
TEACHING QUALIFICATIONS
PGCHE (Falmouth University) (Online Teaching and Learning) United Kingdom. Sept. 2020 – June 2021. Awarded 2021.
University Teaching Methods, University of Sulaimani Kurdistan, Iraq (Jul. 2010 – Dec. 2010) Awarded 2010.
PGCHE (Falmouth University) (Online Teaching and Learning) further details
The PGCHE at Falmouth University consisted of two postgraduate modules: Supporting Student Learning and Developing Flexible Learning Environments.
The PGCHE specialised in Online Teaching and Learning and putting the theory into practice. Attention was paid to the Professional Standards Framework which benchmarks quality in teaching at the level of descriptor 2.
Assignments: Planning, Delivery and Evaluation of Teaching Practice; Design, implementation and evaluation of a blended or online learning approach; Critical Reflective Journal for the course (https://pictorialthoughts965626275.wordpress.com/posts/); Learning conversations with colleagues via Peer Observation; Critical Reflection on my own Learning during the Course.
OTHER TEACHING RELATED COURSES AND PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
TESOL Methodology, (Online) (UMBC) University of Maryland, US. (Apr. 2022 – Jun. 2022.) Pass.
Associate Fellow of Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) awarded by means by the course Teaching and Supporting Learning in Higher Education, Brunel University London. Merit. (Jun. 2014 – Jun. 2015)
ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
University Of Sulaimani, Kurdistan, Iraq. http://univsul.edu.iq/en/ Full-time from Oct. 2010 – Present (on leave September 2023 until August 2024).
Al-Zahra College for Women, Muscat, Oman. https://www.zcw.edu.om/Departments/Department-of-English-Language-and-Literature.aspx Full-time from September 2023 – January 2024. Department of English Language and literature
Head of Department of English Language and Literature and Associate Professor of English Literature (September to January 2024).
Courses at BA Hons Level: Shakespeare; Drama 2; Literary Criticism and Theory, and American Literature.
University Of Sulaimani, Kurdistan, Iraq. http://univsul.edu.iq/en/ Full-time from Oct, 2010 – Present (on leave from September 2023 until August 2024).
Courses at BA Hons. Level: Introduction to English Literature; Modern Novel, Modern Drama, Postmodern Novel, Literary Criticism (theoretical, historical and Critical Approaches), Victorian to Modern English Literature, English Conversation, Research Methodology, Introduction to Drama, Academic English II, British Literature I and II, Modern Fiction, Critical Theory, Graduation Research Paper, Academic Debate (Critical Thinking and Principles of Communication).
Courses at MA Level: Research Methodology and Writing Process (2017 – 2018), Literary Criticism and Critical Literary Theory (2018 – 2019), Modern English Novel (2019 until end of 2019).
Courses at PhD level: Literary Criticism (2021 – 2022).
BA Dissertations Supervised: 20 dissertations.
MA Thesis (Dissertations) Supervised:
1.“Pedagogical Use of Animated Themes in Teaching English Fiction at University Level”
2. “No Escape from Memories: A Psychological Approach to Trauma in Hosseini's The Kite Runner and Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go”
3. Hyperreal Fragmented Identity: A Socio-Psychological Study in Ellis’ American Psycho and Palahniuk’s Fight Club.
4. “Emotional Intelligence and Posthuman Identity in Selected Works of Speculative Fiction: A Thematic Approach to Representations of Artificial Intelligence”
5. “Fractured Identities: Postcolonial Narratives of War and Displacement in The Last Pomegranate Tree and The English Patient”
6. “Rebels and Outcasts in Contemporary Fiction: A Feminist Psychoanalytic Approach to Han Kang’s The Vegetarian”
MA Thesis (Dissertations) Currently Supervised
7. “The Legacy of Slavery: An Intersectional Study in Bernice McFadden’s Nowhere Is a Place and Alice Walker’s The Temple of My Familiar”
MA Thesis (Dissertations) Examined as Internal Examiner:
1. “Diving into the Abyss of Politics: A Socio-Political Study of Koestler’s Darkness at Noon and Warren’s All the King’s Men” Supervisor: Dr. Kawan Othman Arif. February 2020. Sulaimani University.
2. “Constructing a Feminine Self: A Gynocritical Study of Selected Novels of Chinese American Women Novelists” Supervisor: Dr. Kawan Othman Arif. May 2021. Sulaimani University
3. “Deconstructing the Classical Myths: A Postmodern Study of Atwood's The Penelopiad and Toibin’s House of Names”. Supervisor: Dr Shokhan Ahmed. May 2023. Sulaimani University
4. “The Abyss of Queerism: A Psychological Study of Social Dysfunction in Selected Contemporary American Novels” Supervisor: Dr. Kawan Othman Arif. October 2024. Sulaimani University
MA Thesis (Dissertations) Examined as External Examiner:
1. “Haiku and Social Reform: A Cross-Cultural Comparative Study” Supervisor: Dr Sirwan Abdulkarim Ali. September 2025. Salahaddin University
PhD Thesis (Dissertations) Examined as Internal Examiner: 1
1. “Trapped on Life’s Stage to Eternally Act: A Socio-Political Study of Human Being’s Continuous Quest for Ultimate Goodness in Stephen King’s The Dark Tower Series.” Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Zanyar Faiq Saeed. April 2025. Sulaimani University.
New staff mentoring (teaching and research): 3 from the English department and 2 from the Arabic department.
Komar University of Science and Technology, Kurdistan, Iraq. https://komar.edu.iq/ Full-time from Sept 2021 – Sept. 2022.
Courses at BA Hons. Level: Introduction to Literature, British Literature I & II, and Academic English II.
University of Human Development, Kurdistan, Iraq. http://uhd.edu.iq/ Part-time from Oct. 2017 – Jul. 2018.
Course at BA Hons. Level: The Victorian English Novel
Cihan University, Sulaimani, Kurdistan, Iraq. https://sulicihan.edu.krd Part-time from Oct. 2017 – Jul. 2018.
BA Hons. Level: Modern English Literature
Brunel University London http://www.brunel.ac.uk/services/graduate-school
Events and Academic Administration Assistant (Nov. 2015 – Sept. 2016).
EXTERNAL ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
External Examining
1. External examiner, MA Thesis at University of Kurdistan, Hawler,
‘A Psychological Comparative Study of Survival from Trauma in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of A Yellow Sun, Gharbi Mustafa’s When Mountains Weep, Coming of Age in Kurdistan and Tommy Orange’s There There’. Supervisors Dr Joseph Greenwood and Dr Kawan Arif. September 2023.
2. External examiner, MA Thesis at University of Kurdistan, Hawler,
‘A Feminist Analysis of Wartime Women’s Suffering and Resistance in Jean Sasson’s Love in a Torn Land, Gharbi Mustafa’s What Comes with the Dust, and Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns’. Supervisors Dr. Di Wu and Dr. Zana Ibrahim.
External Supervision
- MA Thesis at University of Kurdistan, Hawler: “Fractured Identities: Postcolonial Narratives of War and Displacement in The Last Pomegranate Tree and The English Patient” by Lara Smko Ibrahim.
- MA Thesis at University of Kurdistan, Hawler: “Emotional Intelligence and Posthuman Identity in Selected Works of Speculative Fiction: A Thematic Approach to Representations of Artificial Intelligence” by Zhin Sulaiman Majeed
- MA Thesis at University of Kurdistan, Hawler: “Rebels and Outcasts in Contemporary Fiction: A Feminist Psychoanalytic Approach to Han Kang’s The Vegetarian” by Sara Abdulrazaq Azeez.
Journal Editorial Boards and Peer Reviewing
· Editorial Board Member of the International Journal of Literature Studies (Al-Kindi Centre for Research and Development, UK), (November 2023 -present) see https://al-kindipublisher.com/index.php/ijls/about/editorialTeam.
· Peer reviewer for Language, Literature and Interdisciplinary Studies, India (LLIDS) (November 2023 - present) see https://ellids.com/ (2 peer reviews).
· Peer reviewer for Journal of Research & Reviews in Social Sciences, Pakistan (JRRSSP) (September 2024 – present) see https://journal.kinnaird.edu.pk/ (1 peer review)
· Peer reviewer for Halabja University Journal (2023-present) see https://huj.uoh.edu.iq/index.php/HUJ (1 peer review)
· Peer reviewer for University of Human Development Journal (2020-present) see https://journals.uhd.edu.iq/index.php/juhd/index (10 peer reviews)
· Peer reviewer for (2020-present) see Journal of Zankoy Sulaimani-A (JZS-A) https://univsul.edu.iq/en/journal-of-sulaimani-university-a/ (3 peer reviews)
· Peer reviewer for Scientific Journal of Cihan University – Sulaymaniyah (SJCUS) (2020-present) see https://journal.sulicihan.edu.krd/index.php/sjcus (5 peer reviews)
· Peer reviewer for Journal of the University of Garmian (2020-present) see https://jgu.garmian.edu.krd/?lang=en (3 peer reviews)
· Peer reviewer for Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (KUJHSS) (2020-present) see https://jhss.koyauniversity.org/index.php/jhss/about (2 peer reviews)
· Peer reviewer for Journal of University of Raparin (JUOR) (2018-present) see https://journal.uor.edu.krd/index.php/JUR (2 peer reviews)
UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION
Member of the Scientific Promotion, College of Languages, English Department, Sulaimani University (January 2025 – Present)
As a member of the Scientific Promotion Committee, my main responsibility is to review faculty promotion applications fairly and thoroughly, ensuring that research, teaching, and service contributions meet the university’s standards. We evaluate the quality of publications, provide constructive feedback to applicants, and help endorse transparency in the promotion process. our role is vital in supporting academic growth and maintaining a high standard of excellence within the university community.
Head of Department of English Language and Literature, Al-Zahra College for Women, Oman (September 2023 to January 2024).
Duties and Responsibilities: Responsible for managing and mentoring 4 academic staff in terms of developing their capability in teaching, research and administration; manage the day to day running of the teaching and research aspects of the department; responsible for overall research strategy and the maintenance of high quality teaching and learning within the department; responsible for curriculum planning and development in all areas of the department’s work; leadership of the department’s strategic planning and decision making; developing the course design of the two BA Hons degrees in the department; planning teaching innovations and development for the future; liaising with senior management and the Dean of the College; representing departmental views and needs to faculty level and central university management; representative of the department on college wide governance committees (see below) to ensure cross-departmental parity; enhancing the prestige of the department both nationally and internationally; initiating and developing links with relevant external bodies and other universities; facilitating staff-student consultative committee meeting functions; facilitating the appointment of appropriate departmental co-ordinators and key committees.
Activities: I redesigned for the purposes of Omani QA reaccreditation the following 18 modules in the English degree: Introduction to Fiction; Introduction to Poetry; Novel 1; Drama 1; Romantic & Victorian Literature; Shakespeare; 20th Century Literature; 17th and 18th Century Literature; Literary Criticism; American Literature; Classical Literature; Drama 2; Novel 2; Comparative Literature; Colonial and Postcolonial Literature; Seminar in Literature; Women`s Literature; Creative Writing. I also drew up programme learning outcomes, new scoring rubrics and employability/ graduate skills goals for the literature part of the degree.
I reported to: Dean of the College, Dr. Musallam Ali Al Manni.
Report to me: All academic and administrative staff in the English department.
Member of the College Board, Al-Zahra College (Sept. 2023-January 2024).
Activities: Setting the general policy of the admission in the college; determining rules governing honor students; monitoring the competencies of college staff and their job descriptions; approving renumeration to visiting teachers and external examiners; approving the strategic plan of the college and submitting it to the board of trustees and directors; approving the annual plan of the college and submitting it to the board of trustees and directors; propose tuition fees and other fees charged by the college and submit them to the board of trustees and directors; monitor the administrative and financial regulations and submit them board of trustees and directors; monitor and develop the academic regulations and submit them to the board of trustees and directors; monitor the study plan of the college and follow up its implementation and the conditions for granting academic degrees; monitor and develop the curriculum based on the recommendation of the boards of academic departments; recommending the appointment, promotion, secondment and granting of sabbatical leaves to academic staff members, according to college regulations; supervise the evaluation of the college’s various academic and administrative practices; review the draft annual budget and submit it to the board of trustees to take necessary decisions and act thereon; discussing and approving the results of exams received from the departments; approving the list of graduating students and submitting them to the board of trustees for approval; forming the necessary academic and administrative central committee to improve the functioning of the college; study all topics and proposals referred by members of the College Board.
Member of the College Executive Committee, Al-Zahra College (Sept. 2023-January 2024).
Activities: Ensure strategic planning; monitor and strengthen programs and services; ensure legal and ethical integrity; address all matters affecting college operations; enhance the college’s public standing; study matters referred to it by the college committees and make recommendations on them to the College Board; study matters and topics referred to it by the College Board.
Member of the College Quality Assurance Committee, Al-Zahra College (Sept. 2023-January 2024).
Activities: Preparing the annual work plan for the committee; discussing QA department procedures and forms; contributing to review policies, procedures, and forms and their application; supervising the work of affiliated sub-committees; proposing recommendations to improve overall quality of teaching and learning within the college; preparing institutional accreditation files and documents; studying college board proposals that relate to quality.
Member of the College Academic Promotions Committee, Al-Zahra College (Sept. 2023-January 2024).
Activities: Considering requests for academic promotion referred by departments; preparing a review report evaluating the performance of the applicant for promotion related to teaching performance and community service, according to the mechanism in force in the college, and attaching it to the promotion request; determining the names of the evaluators, communicating with them, and sending them the scientific production; ensuring the applicant fulfils the academic promotion requirements; preparing the committees decision and sending it to the College Board; studying and topics and proposals referred to it by the College Board.
Head of Quality Assurance and Continual Academic Development, College of Languages, English Department, Sulaimani University (September 2022 to September 2023).
Activities: Ensure quality-assurance standards and procedures across the College; manage and support academic quality enhancement through creating effective strategies and structures; review and evaluate both student and teaching staff academic records; assess student’s annual feedback on learning and teaching; needs analysis of staff development requirements.
I report to the Dean of the College, Prof. Dr. Shakhawan Jalal Haji Faraj.
Report to me: Quality Assurance Co-Ordinators for English, Kurdish, Arabic, Persian and Translation.
Responsible for QA and academic development in five language departments (including translation) with over 2,000 students in the college and over eighty staff.
Quality Assurance Coordinator for The English Department, Sulaimani University (Dec. 2016 – Dec. 2019).
Activities: Ensure quality-assurance standards and procedures across the department; manage and support academic quality enhancement; review and evaluate both student and teaching staff academic records; assess student’s annual feedback on learning and teaching.
Reports to: Head of the English Department.
Head of the Exam Committee for The English Department, Sulaimani University (Oct. 2017 – Oct. 2018)
To protect the quality of provisional and final examinations; to establish procedures and instructions within the framework and shaping the results of examinations; to grant an exemption from taking one or more examinations; to safeguard the quality of the exam organization and the examination procedures and maintain standards; to take measures against exam fraud; to employ examiners for organizing examinations and determining the results of these examinations; to award the degree certificate as proof that the student passed the final examination.; creating guidelines for examiners; investigating and imposing penalties for fraud and plagiarism; decision regarding the extension of the validity period of exams.
Reports to: Head of the English Department.
Member of the Exam Committee - for The English Department, Sulaimani University, (Oct. 2018 – Sept. 2023).
Activities: Manage and organise exam halls, teaching staff invigilation and assessment administration; input students’ grades and their academic records; a member shall prepare relevant time tables based on the Examination Time Table; a member shall make the Seating Arrangement; a member shall prepare and display an overall supervision duty list as well as daily supervision duty list on the staff notice; a member shall ensure that adequate stationery, like answer sheets, drawing sheets, charts, graph paper, water jugs etc. are made available.
Member of The Scientific Committee, The English Department, Sulaimani University, (Oct. 2016 – Sept. 2023). (Feb. 2025 – Present)
Activities: Following up the promotional reports on the academic department’s lecturers; joint decisions making regarding the scientific integrity of the published articles and printed books authored by the teaching members in the department; developing and motivating the scientific research of the academic department; to ensure continued quality and scientific integrity in publications and research; to support educational, scientific and academic meetings; to give and share advice, to offer all staff consultation on both scientific and professional endeavours.
Teaching Philosophy
I am passionate about teaching my subject and believe good and effective teaching is at the centre of what academics do. Excellent teaching is as much about learning from students as it is anything else. Teaching is not just about imparting information but about giving students the skills to learn for themselves. This kind of teaching is always student-centred and facilitates student learning, not just while you are at university, but for the whole of your life in the future. We remember those teachers at school and university who inspired us and made us feel our lives could be transformed and this memory that helps us when we meet obstacles in later life. I am a qualified and reflective teacher who is conversant with the educational theory that underpins successful practice. In 2020-2021 I studied for a PGCHE in university teaching at the University of Falmouth (UK) where I specialised in blended and online learning. While at Brunel I gained the professional certification of AFHEA from the British Higher Education Academy. I completed TESOL Methodology (online) in 2022 from University of Maryland (UMBC) in 2022. Since qualifying as a UK university teacher, I find myself more interested in pedagogy and education than ever before and how students become successful learners.
Skills
I am a patient, creative person who likes problem solving and helping others. I am a clear communicator with effective interpersonal skills. I understand the core values of teamwork and collaboration, the importance of training and efficient administration. I have considerable knowledge of how students learn and understand pastoral care and how to advise them when dealing with difficulties in university procedures. I have familiarity with academic planning and management and the ability to plan and manage research projects. Evidence of supervising students in thesis work. I am multi-lingual: English and Kurdish (Native Speakers: Reading, Writing and Speaking), and good in Arabic (Reading and Speaking). I believe strongly in the value of lifelong learning and the need to keep reflecting on what you have done in order to move forward to a higher level.
Research Philosophy
I believe strongly in the value of research and in keeping up to date about scholarship in my field within literary studies. I read widely and follow the latest critical developments in Britain, Europe, and the USA. I maintain that research does not finish after your Ph.D. but continues through the whole of your academic career. I also think that good research underpins excellent teaching. In my view, research occurs in many forms: book reviews, interviews; cultural journalism; book chapters as well as traditional academic articles. I also believe that Kurdish researchers should publish internationally as well as locally and engage with the public about our work.
PUBLICATIONS
Articles (Peer-Reviewed)
Saeed, Alan Ali. 'Katherine Mansfield’s Alternative Selves in “Bliss” and “The Garden Party’’’. The Scientific Journal of Cihan University Sulaymaniyah (SJCUS) Vol 3:2, December 2019, ISSN 2520- 7377 (Online), ISSN 2520- 5102 (Print) available online: https://sj.sulicihan.edu.krd/katherine - Mansfields-alternative-selves-in-bliss-and-the-garden-party/
Saeed, Alan Ali. 'Jamesian and Bergsonian Stream of Consciousness in Katherine Mansfield's “Prelude” (1918)’. Sulaimani University Journal, Sulaymaniyah (JZS- B) Vol 20:3, December 2019, ISSN 1813- 0852 (Print), ISSN 2617- 3034 online: https://jzsb.univsul.edu.iq/issues/vol20n3/jzsb-10931
Sher Ali H, Saeed A. 'The Pedagogical Use of Animated Themes in Teaching English Fiction at University Level'. Zanco Journal of Humanity Science (JAHS) Salahaddin University-Erbil. Vol. 24(4): 247 -257. November 2020, ISSN 2412-396X (Online), ISSN 2218-0222 (Print) available online: https://zancojournals.su.edu.krd/index.php/JAHS/article/view/3654
Abdulqadr, K. S., Sharif, R. H., Omer, R. J., Saeed, A. A., & Abdul, Z. K. (2021). 'Disney Classics between Feminism and Victimization of Women: A Historical Analysis'. Technium Social Sciences Journal. Vol. 21:1, July 2021. pp. 833-839. ISSN (online): 2668-7798. Online: https://doi.org/10.47577/tssj.v21i1.3853
Saeed, Alan Ali. 'The Impetus of Love as Creative Evolution: Exploring Henri Bergson's Politics of Love in Katherine Mansfield's “A Cup of Tea''’. Tinakori: Critical Journal of the Katherine Mansfield Society. Issue 5. 2021. pp. 41- 53. ISSN 2514- 6106. (Katherine Mansfield Society, UK) Available online: https://katherinemansfieldsociety.org/publications/tinakori/
Saeed, Alan Ali. 'From Supernatural to Psychological: A Historical Study of the Concept of the 'Fantastic' in Hoffmann’s “The Sandman” and Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart''’. Journal of the University of Human Development (JUHD). Vol. 8 No. 3 (6thJuly 2022) Online: https://journals.uhd.edu.iq/index.php/juhd/article/view/962
Muhammad Ahmad, Shaimaa, & Ali Saeed, Alan. 'When Memories Haunt: A Psychological Approach to Trauma in Hosseini's The Kite Runner'. Journal of Al-Anbar University for Language and Literature, Issue 36, June 2022 pp. 617-631, ISSN: 2073 6614. Online: https://www.iasj.net/iasj/download/ccb57d0e7b9f2820
Sharif, H. R., and A. A. Saeed. “The Fear of Freedom in Hyperreality and Its Adverse Effect on Identity in Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho”. Koya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 5, no. 1, June 2022, pp. 94-100, Online doi: https://doi.org/10.14500/kujhss.v5n1y2022.pp94-100
Saeed, Alan Ali. 'Satire in Modernism: A Comparative Study of T.S. Eliot's ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock’ and Aldous Huxley's Crome Yellow'. ZANCO Journal of Humanity Sciences (ZJHS), Salahaddin University-Erbil. Vol. 27 No. 2 April 2023) Online: https://zancojournal.su.edu.krd/index.php/JAHS/article/view/388
Interviews/ Conversations
Saeed, Alan Ali. 'A Conversation with Philip Tew: from Critic to Novelist, from Reading London to Writing London', The Literary London Journal, Vol. 18, No. 1 (Autumn 2020): 709. (Literary London Society, UK) Online: http://literarylondon.org/the-literary-london-journal/current-issue/
Saeed, Alan Ali. 'On Expatriatism, Writing and Brief Shining Moments: An Interview with Alesa Lightbourne, author of The Kurdish Bike'. The Bosphorus Review of Books. Issue 26. (May 2021). (Turkey) Online: https://bosphorusreview.com/of-expatriatism-writing-and-brief-shining-moments-an-interview-withalesa-lightbourne-author-ofthe-kurdish-bike
Saeed, Alan Ali. 'Literary Podcasting and the Arab World Through Books: An Interview with Ursula Lindsey and Marcia Lynx Qualey', Co-creators of the Bulaq Podcast. The Bosphorus Review of Books. Issue 27. (July 2021). (Turkey) Online: https://bosphorusreview.com/interview-withursula-lindsey-and-marcia-lynx-qualey
Saeed, Alan Ali. 'Reflections on Teaching Mrs. Dalloway in Iraqi Kurdistan: An Interview with Steven Barfield: Part I' The Modernist Review. Issue 35. The Transnational. (8th November 2021) (British Association for Modernist Studies). Online: https://modernistreviewcouk.wordpress.com/2021/11/08/reflections-on-teaching-mrs-dalloway-in-iraqi-kurdistan-an-interview-with-steven-barfield-part-1/
Saeed, Alan Ali. 'Reflections on Teaching Mrs. Dalloway in Iraqi Kurdistan: An Interview with Steven Barfield: Part 2' The Modernist Review. Issue 36 (6th December 2021) (British Association for Modernist Studies).
Saeed, Alan Ali and Hisên, Rewşen (in conversation). 'Animal Farm in Kurdistan' Orwell Society Journal, 19. pp. 33- 36 (Autumn 2021) (The Orwell Society, UK) Online: https://orwellsociety.com/about-the-society/orwell-society-journal/
Saeed, Alan A. ‘A History of The Slemani International Film Festival: An Interview with Hemn Hussein, Director of Communication for the Festival’. Journal of Festive Studies, vol. 4, no. 1, Feb. 2023, pp. 135-43, doi:10.33823/jfs.2022.4.1.125. Online: https://journals.h-net.org/jfs/article/view/125 / https://journals.h-net.org/jfs/issue/view/11
Saeed, Alan Ali. 'An Interview with Gian Sardar, author of Take What You Can Carry: A Novel'. The Bosphorus Review of Books. (September 2023). (Turkey) Online: https://bosphorusreview.com/interview-gian-sardar/
Book Reviews
Saeed, Alan Ali. 'Review of ORWELL', ImageText: Interdisciplinary Comics Journal, Volume 12, Issue 3 (Autumn 2021). (University of Florida, USA) Online: https://imagetextjournal.com/review-of-orwell/
Saeed, Alan Ali. 'Review: Temple of Refuge by Sartep Namiq, Bruce Sterling, Matthias Zuber, (illustrator) Felix Mertikat.' The Bosphorus Review of Books. Issue 29. (November 2021). (Turkey) Online: https://bosphorusreview.com/review-temple-of-refuge
Saeed, Alan Ali. 'Review of Adam Guy, The nouveau roman and Writing in Britain After Modernism'. Journal of Literature and Aesthetics. Vol. 31, Issue 1 (2021) pp. 148- 151. ISSN: 2200- 0437 (University of Sydney, Australia) Available as a PDF. Online: https://openjournals.library.sydney.edu.au/index.php/LA/article/view/15683
Saeed, Alan Ali. Review of Take What You Can Carry: A Novel, by Gian Sardar. Prairie Schooner, vol. 95 no. 4, 2021, p. 154-155. (University of Nebraska–Lincoln, USA). Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/psg.2021.0097. Online: https://muse.jhu.edu/issue/49348
Ali Saeed, A. (2022). 'Review of Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students (5th ed.)’. REFLections, Vol. 29, Issue 1, (2022) pp. 247-249. ISSN 1513- 5934 (print) ISSN 2651- 1479 (online). (King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thailand.) Online: https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/reflections/article/view/258955
Ali Saeed, A. ‘Review of Todd Martin (ed.) The Bloomsbury Handbook to Katherine Mansfield’. New Academia: An International Journal of English Language, Literature and Literary Theory. Vol. XII, issue iii, (July 2023) pp.1-4. ISSN 2347-2073 (online) (Barloni Books, India) Online: https://interactionsforum.com/new-academia-volume-xii-2023/new-academia-vol-xii-issue-iii-july-2023
Ali Saeed, A. (2024). 'Review of English for Business Communication.' REFLections, Vol. 31. Issue 1 (2024). pp. 328-330 ISSN 1513- 5934 (print) ISSN 2651- 1479 (online). (King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thailand.) Online: https://doi.org/10.61508/refl.v31i1.270836
Ali Saeed, A. ‘Book Review: The Intelligent Unconscious in Modernist Literature and Science’. The Modernist Review. Issue 52. 10th June 2024. (British Association for Modernist Studies). Available online: https://modernistreviewcouk.wordpress.com/2024/06/10/book-review-the-intelligent-unconscious-in-modernist-literature-and-science/
Ali Saeed, A. ‘Review of Stephen E. Lucas The Art of Public Speaking (13th edition) 2019’. New Academia: An International Journal of English Language, Literature and Literary Theory. Vol. XIII, issue ii, (April 2024) pp.1-8. ISSN 2347-2073 (online) (Barloni Books, India) Online: https://interactionsforum.com/new-academia-vol-xiii-issue-ii-april-2024
Ali Saeed, A. and Barfield, S., ‘Review: Women’s Voices from Kurdistan: A Selection of Kurdish Poetry’. Sugar House Review. Issue 28. Summer 2024. pp. 97-100. ISSN: 1948-9374 (print). (Utah, USA). Review also available online https://sugarhousereviews.blogspot.com/2024/07/womens-voices-from-kurdistan-selection.html
Barfield, S. and Saeed, A. A. (2025) “Book review: Battershill. C. and Ross. S. (2022) Using digital humanities in the classroom: a practical introduction for teachers, lecturers, and students. 2nd edn. London: Bloomsbury Academic”, Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, (34). DOI: https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi34.1468. Online: https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1468
Saeed, Alan Ali (2025) "A Book Review of Alice Kelly, Commemorative Modernisms: Women Writers, Death and the First World War. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2020. xi + 297pp," Journal of Arts and Social Sciences: Vol. 16: Iss. 1, Article 12. Online: https://jass.squ.edu.om/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1410&context=journal
Peer Review Report
Saeed AA. Peer Review Report For: Fundamental operations of the political in Beckett’s Molloy [version 1; peer review: 1 approved]. Open Res Europe 2025, 5:141 (https://doi.org/10.21956/openreseurope.21554.r55081)
Saeed AA. Peer Review Report For: “Perché i xe bestie?!” Politics, race and exclusion in Vladan Desnica’s The Winter Summer Vacation [version 1; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]. Open Res Europe 2025, 5:135 (https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/5-135/v1#referee-response-55826)
Journalism and Miscellaneous
Barfield, Steven and Saeed, Alan Ali ' "Why must it always be tomato soup?" How a line by Katherine Mansfield launched a literary competition'. Katherine Mansfield Society Newsletter, Issue 41, April 2022, pp. 6-8. (Katherine Mansfield Society) Available online by subscription https://katherinemansfieldsociety.org/publications/newsletter/.
Media
Saeed, A. A. (2021) ‘The Theme of Innocence in Lord of the Flies’ YouTube. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nCuh8W_5xc&ab_channel=AlanSaeedmso-bidi-font-weight:bold"
Saeed, Alan Ali, 'Critical Reflective Journal for PGCHE, Falmouth University, Sept. 2020 – June 2021 [online'] Available at: https://pictorialthoughts965626275.wordpress.com/
Presented Research Seminar Papers
Title: ‘The Story of Pygmalion in Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Shaw’s Pygmalion’. Sulaimani University, 2018
Title: ‘Katherine Mansfield and Her Circle’ Birkbeck, University of London hosted by Katherine Mansfield Society Postgraduate Day about. Paper Title: ‘Katherine Mansfield, William James, Henri Bergson and Stream of Consciousness 1918-23’, Nov. 2013.
Title: Jamesian and Bergsonian ‘Stream of Consciousness’ in Katherine Mansfield's ‘Prelude’ ‘Jamesian and Bergsonian ‘Stream of Consciousness’ in Katherine Mansfield's ‘Prelude’ at ‘Researching the Arts’. A Joint conference between Brunel and Westminster at the Antonin Artaud building in Brunel University, June 2014.
Title: Stream of Consciousness and Élan Vital in Katherine Mansfield’s ‘Prelude’ bat Katherine Mansfield and France. International conference organized by the University of Paris III – Sorbonne Nouvelle in conjunction with the Katherine Mansfield Society, Jun. 2014.
Title: ‘May Sinclair, William James, Henri Bergson and Stream of Consciousness in Mary Olivier: A Life and A Journal of Impressions in Belgium, at May Sinclair Society Introductory Symposium. Sheffield Hallam University. Jul. 2014.
Title: ‘Katherine Mansfield and Elizabeth von Arnim: Gendered Journeys to Alternative Selves from New Zealand to Britain and Europe’, at Crossing the Space Between, 1914 – 1945: The 16th annual conference of the multidisciplinary society. The Space Between: Literature and Culture, 1914 – 1945. Institute of English Studies, University of London. Jul 2014.
Title: ‘What is Academic Writing?’ Brunel University London, 2014
Title: ‘My experiences of Life as a PhD Student’ at Newton Room, Nov. 2014. Brunel Researcher Development Series 1:
Title: What is Academic Writing. Brunel University London, 2014
Title: ‘Critical Reading, Critical Thinking.’ Brunel University London, 2015
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Business and Commerce
· Different types of Business ((3 hours, Open University Certificate, 2/2024)
· Understanding your customers (8 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Commercial Awareness (2 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Business Communication: Writing a SWOT Analysis (8 hours, Open University Certificate, 2/2024)
· Human Resources: Recruitment and Selection (12 hours, Open University Certificate, 2/2024)
· Employee Engagement (10 hours, Open University Certificate, 2/2024)
· Employment Relations and Employee Engagement (10 hours, Open University Certificate, 2/2024)
· Developing your Skills as an HR professional (9 hours, Open University Certificate, 2/2024)
· Exploring Career Mentoring and Coaching (24 hours, Open University Certificate, 2/2024)
· Workplace Learning with Coaching and Mentoring (9 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Effective Communication in the Workplace (24 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Leadership and Followership (24 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· How Teams Work (10 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Groups and Teamwork (20 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Retail Marketing (8 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Marketing in the 21st Century (6 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Marketing Communications in the Digital Age (12 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Innovation, Markets and Industrial Change (15 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Working with Charts, Graphs and Tables (15 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· More Working with Charts, Graphs and Tables (15 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Education
· Diploma in Outcome-based Education and Academic Quality Assurance (10 hours, Alison/ Pakistan Institute of Quality, Certificate, Score 90%, 3/2024)
· Making Social Media Work in Higher Education (8 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Building Confidence in using Online Forums (8 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Exploring Educational Leadership (4 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Exploring Innovative Assessment Methods (12 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Exploring Equality and Equity in Education (10 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Open Education (40 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· An introduction to Open Educational Resources (OER) (6 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Leadership for Inclusion: what can you do? (9 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Inclusive Leadership: Effecting Change? (8 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Inclusive Leadership: Collaborating for Professional Development (8 hours, Open University Certificate, 3/2024)
· Helping teachers to learn (12 hours, British Council Certificate, 24/3/2024)
· Teaching English: How to teach grammar (12 hours, British Council Certificate, 24/ 3/2024)
· Teaching English: Communication skills (12 hours, British Council Certificate, 25/ 3/2024)
· Teaching English: How to teach vocabulary (12 hours, British Council Certificate, 25/ 3/2024)
Staff Development Activities (Presented)
Numerous staff development seminars given to other staff at Sulaimani University. We seldom have outside speakers due to funding issues.
I have offered the following seminars to colleagues and students:
1. Active Reading and Note Taking. Sulaimani University, 2019
2. The Elements of Drama. Sulaimani University, 2019
3. What Makes A Good Story? Sulaimani University, 2019
4. Characteristics of Gothic literature. Komar University, 2021
5. Contemporary Literature and Postmodernism. Komar University, 2021
6. Introduction to English Literature. Komar University, 2021
7. Essay Writing. Komar University, 2021
8. Introduction to Literary Theory and Literary Criticism. Komar University, 2021
9. The Art of Podcasting. Sulaimani University, 2022
10. How to Influence and Persuade. Sulaimani University, 2022
11. Management Skills for Researchers. Sulaimani University, 2022
12. Thesis Writing Techniques. Sulaimani University, 2022
13. Research and Open Access Papers. Sulaimani University, 2022
14. Working with your Supervisor. Sulaimani University, 2022
15. Graduate Learning and Teaching Programme. Sulaimani University, 2023
16. Developing Flexible Learning Environments. Sulaimani University, 2023
17. Writing a Review of a Book or Journal Article. Sulaimani University, 2016
18. Essay writing: Common Precepts. Sulaimani University, 2016
19. Interpreting Essay Questions. Sulaimani University, 2016
20. Writing in the First Person / Writing in the Third Person. Sulaimani University, 2016
21. How to Make the Perfect Presentation. Sulaimani University, 2017
22. Fast and Effective Reading. Sulaimani University, 2017
23. Fundamentals of Academic Writing Parts (I, II, III). Sulaimani University, 2017 – 2018
24. Exam Preparation and Revision at Postgraduate Level. Sulaimani University, 2017
25. How do I Write Academically? Sulaimani University, 2018Interpersonal Skills. Sulaimani University, 2018
26. Reflective Writing. Sulaimani University, 2018
27. Academic Writing, Al Zahra College, 2023
Co-ordinator of Faculty English Language Development Course. English language at university level for Sulaimani University teaching staff: Intermediate and Advanced levels; English Conversation, approximately 40 faculty per year. 2020-2022 (120 hours in total teaching and managerial).
I am editor of The Handbook of Literary Academic Learning: A Collection of Practical Guidance, created by the department which aims to give both students and new staff information about literary studies along with creating a digital library for everyone to get benefit.
Staff Development Workshops Attended (at Al-Zahra College)
Registration of courses in the Omani Qualifications Framework 10/2023; Examination Policy and Assessment Procedures 10/2023; How to Protect Intellectual Property Rights 10/2023; Graduation Project Supervision 10/2023; Research Methods and Research Ethics 10/2023; Designing Questionnaire using Google Form 10/2023; APA Style Citation 10/2023; Oman Qualification Framework (OQF) Listing 10/2023; Workshop on Student-Centred Teaching philosophy 11/2023 ; Workshop on Course Design / Academic Program Design 11/2023; GP (Graduation Project Supervision) 11/2023; Research Consultancies 11/2023; Entrepreneurship 11/2023; Research Ethics 11/2023; RTN (Research Teaching Nexus) 11/2023; E - L e a r n i n g 11/2023; College Budget 11/2023; Knowledge Dissemination in society 11/2023; Research Venues 11/2023; Student Misconduct 11/2023; Citation 11/2023; Bloom's Taxonomy 11/2023; Teaching and Learning Professional Recognition 11/2023; Classroom Observation and Peer Evaluation 11/2023; Academic Staff Annual Appraisal 11/2023; Professional Development 11/2023; ZCW Operational Plan 11/2023; Procedures And Arrangements For Special Needs And Academic Integration Student's Exams 11/2023; Linking Scientific Research To Teaching 12/2023; Guideline & Arrangements for the Administration & Application of Final Exam. 12/2023; Tasks & Roles of the External Examiner. 12/2023; Procedures & Arrangements for Special Needs Exams and Academic Integration. 12/2023; Exam Procedures. 12/2023; ZCW Operational Plan 12/2023; Professional Development 12/2023; Course Semester Review 12/2023; Research Funding2 12/2023; Flipped Classroom 12/2023.
Additional Qualifications
As PhD student at Brunel: Certificate of Podcasting: A practical workshop, Brunel University London, Feb. 2016; Certificate of VIVA: Preparing for your thesis examination and Viva Voce, Brunel University London, Oct 2015; Certificate of How to Influence & Persuade, Brunel University London, Oct. 2014; Certificate of How to Make the Perfect Presentation, Brunel University London, Oct. 2014; Certificate of Recognition of a high score within the School of Arts for the Research Student Conference, Brunel University London, March 2014.; Certificate of Management Skills for Researchers, Brunel University London, Feb. 2014; Certificate of Thesis Writing Workshop, Brunel University London, Feb. 2013; Certificate of Theses and Open Access Papers, Brunel University London, Feb. 2013; Certificate of Researcher Development Series 2, Brunel University London, Nov. 2012; Certificate of Job Applications and CV Writing for Researchers, Brunel University London, Oct. 2012; Certificate of Working with your Supervisor as part of the skills training and development programme, Brunel University London, Nov 2011; Certificate of Early-Stage Research Module, Brunel University London, Nov. 2011; Certificate of Elsevier Author Seminar, Brunel University London, Oct. 2011.
Academic IELTS, International House - London, 2007.
Certificate of Medicine Counter Assistants, accredited by The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, 2009.
Certificate in Cambridge Proficiency; Certificate in English Language Skills. Harrow College, Middlesex - London, 2003.
Certificate in Computer Literacy: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Internet Engine Explorer - Sulaimani University, Iraq 2002.
VOLUNTARY WORK EXPERIENCE
Administered and arranged seminars at Research and Master Levels, Brunel University London, 2015 – 2016; worked voluntarily at Brunel University London as an event organizer together with running at interdisciplinary conferences, 2015; worked at Sulaimani University in Iraqi Kurdistan as an academic directorial administrator, 2010.
Research Assistant at Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Office in London, carrying out research on a range of political and economic issues related to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. I contributed to the organisation of events and conferences to promote the Kurdistan Region as an investment-friendly region and economy. Attended relevant think tanks and parliamentary meetings and seminars and reporting it back to the KRG, 2009
Media Administration and Broadcasting experience at the British Museum in the Broadcasting Department in London, 2007.
Work experience in the Careers Group, University of London, as an event organizer and porter supervisor.
Data Entry at the Careers Group Office in the University of London, 2007-2009
Translation work and other work with rwfilms.co.uk - an organization that produces factual films in the United Kingdom and the International Market in the area of humanities, 2002-2009.
Interpreting for various Agencies including Lexicon Linguistics, Alpha and Lion-bridge, from Kurdish to English language and vice versa within the United Kingdom as a freelance interpreter, 2002-2009.
Professional Memberships (while studying in Britain)
Member of the May Sinclair Society, May 2015; Member of the Virginia Woolf Society of Great Britain, June 2015; Member of the Dorothy Richardson Society, January 2014; Member of The Space Between: Literature and Culture, 1914-1945, May 2014; Member of the Katherine Mansfield Society, June 2013; Member of the British Association for Modernist Studies, January 2013.
Personal / Interests and Activities
My main interests include watching films and documentaries, physical training, and socialising with friends. Following developments in Kurdish culture and politics and in the middle east more generally. I enjoy keeping up to date with the latest information about the world of technology. Reading various biographies, modern literature and fiction of both British and International origin.
References
1. Dr. Kawan Othman Arif
English Dept. College of Languages, Sulaimani University, Sulaimani
Tel: +964(0)770 1532677, email: kawan.arif@univsul.edu.iq
2. Prof. Philip Tew
Prof Emeritus of Modern and Contemporary Literature, Brunel University, London. Email: "Philip Tew" philip.tew@brunel.ac.uk
3. Prof. Rauf Kareem Mahmood
English Dept. College of Languages, Sulaimani University, Sulaimani
Tel: +964(0)770 1399938, email: rauf.mahmood@univsul.edu.iq
4. Prof. Nick Hubble, Professor of Modern and Contemporary English and Director of the Brunel Centre for Contemporary Writing (BCCW).
Brunel University, London
Email: nick.hubble@brunel.ac.uk
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