Abdullah Al Mahmud, PhD

Dr. Abdullah Al Mahmud has over sixteen years of teaching, research, editing, and administration experience in Malaysia and Bangladesh. Over these years, he has taught various courses in English Language and Literature, Applied Linguistics, and Education to students from more than forty countries. Before joining ULAB, he was a Senior Lecturer of English and Education at MAHSA University Malaysia and an Assistant Professor of English at United International University Bangladesh. Mahmud has a PhD in ESL from Monash University and MA in Applied Linguistics & ELT with BA Honors in English Literature from the University of Dhaka. He has publications in high-impact and indexed journals and international/national conference papers. His research interests include Applied Linguistics, TESOL/ELT, Critical Pedagogy, Comparative Linguistics, and Postcolonial Studies. Mahmud loves traveling, observing & reflecting, reading, and personally interacting with students. As a multilingual pracademic himself, Mahmud promotes multilingualism and believes in a critical and comparative approach to education, language, and literature. 

Department of English & Humanities (DEH)
Bachelor of Arts in English
Master of Arts in English

PhD in ESL, Monash University (Australia/Malaysia)

Thesis title: ELT IN THE CONTEXT OF NEOCOLONIAL POWER RELATIONS: A MACRO-MICRO QUALITY FRAMEWORK FOR A POSTCOLONIAL CRITICAL PEDAGOGY

MA in Applied Linguistics and ELT, Department of English, University of Dhaka

BA Honours in English, Department of English, University of Dhaka

Applied Linguistics, ELT/TESOL, Social Justice Approach in Education, Critical Pedagogy, Comparative Linguistics, World English, World Literature, English Literature, Postcolonial Studies, Inter- and Intra-faith Harmony.

• Higher Degree by Research Scholarship (full tuition fee waiver and monthly allowance) for PhD at Monash University Australia/Malaysia. 
• Graduate Research Scholarship for PhD in Applied Linguistics at the University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD).
• Egypt Government’s Full PhD Scholarship to study at Cairo University.
• Monash University VC’s International Inter-Campus PhD Student Mobility Grant, Monash Clayton, Australia.
• A fully funded grant for a summer school held at Mayis University, Istanbul by the Turkish Prime Minister’s Office and the Office of Public Diplomacy (KDK).
• Bangladesh government’s stipend for BA Honor’s in English.

• Executive Member: University Governance Documentation and Review (UGDRC) project (completed), MAHSA University Malaysia (MU)
• Team Leader, the English coursebook project for the three modules of United International University English Language Centre
• Executive Technical committee member of ten academic conferences and three academic journals of MU
• Designed a Postgraduate Certificate program in Teaching and Learning for MU
• Designed and conducted a training program titled ‘English Proficiency Programme for the Educators (EPPE)’ for the academic staff of LUC
• Developed prospectus/brochure for over 100 training and workshops for MU and MAHSA Academic Solutions, Malaysia (MACS)
• Facilitated as the trainer of a workshop titled ‘Reflective Teaching’ for the academic staff of Linton University College, Malaysia (LUC)
• Led the team for handling the program audit of MQA (Malaysian Qualifications Agency) for MU
• Conducted and prepared questions for IELTS Equivalent English Test for students and staff at LUC   
• Conducted at least seven training sessions (on pedagogy, COPPA, etc.) for the academic staff of LUC
• Member, curriculum review committee, LUC (for designing BA in English program).
• Member, ISO audit committee of LUC
• Member, OBE implementation committee of LUC
• Managed institutional conduct of English tests at LUC in collaboration with PASSWORD English Language Testing Ltd, UK
• Mentor, Student Central, MAHSA University, Malaysia
• Ex Co-Editor, Annual Souvenir of United International University

 

1. EXPOSURE/OUTREACH 

• Panel Discussant, International Seminar 2: Secularization, Islamization and Globalization in South Asia: Beyond bipolar Politics in Bangladesh, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS), Japan, August 2022
• Keynote address on “Educational Transformation in the Post-Covid Era: Challenges Versus Prospects” at ICRIETMS-2022 organized by PSN Engineering College, Tamilnadu, India, March 2022.
• Invited as Intensive English Trainer by Henan University of Chinese Medicine, China
• Attended ‘Marketing of Higher Education SIG Colloquium’, The Academy of Marketing, at Universidad Loyola, Seville, Spain, 2019.
• Attended 43^rd IATEFL Conference in Cardiff, UK, 2009.
• Session Chair at international conferences in Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

• Member, TESL Canada (International), Membership number: TC102481, since 2021
• Member, Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE), Membership No. 53656 since 2018.
• Member, Asia TEFL, Membership No. BD5517, since 2008.
• Life member, English Department Alumni Society, University of Dhaka, since 2006.

Principal Investigator: ‘The Post-Islamist Directions of Thoughts Among the Ulama of Bangladesh’, funded by Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Japan (Completed, 2022)

Manzoor, S.R., Kaur, J. & Al Mahmud, A. (2022). “The Implications of Work-Based Learning Initiatives by Universities”. In Rosalind Raby, Krishna Bista and Jasvir Singh, International Student Employability: Institutional and Individual Strategies from the Global South, Routledge Studies in Global Student Mobility series.

Al Mahmud, A. Segar, K.C. & Sriabirami, S. (2019). Error patterns of Malay speaking tertiary students in English essay writing: A collaborative action research. In Aqeel Khan and Hishan Sanil (Eds.) Recent Trends on Multidisciplinary Research, Singapore: Headway Global Research Consultancy, pp 1-7.

Al Mahmud, A. (2016). Eschatological and Metaphysical Perspectives in Historiography: Rethinking the Current Global Events. In Mercan, M. H. (Eds.) Transformation of the Muslim World in the 21^st Century. UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, pp 38-58.

Al Mahmud, A. (1997). Taqwar Mormokotha (‘The Gist of Piety’), translated from Urdu Haqeeqat-e-Taqwa of Amin Ahsan Islahi to Bengali). Dhaka: Kollan Prokashoni.

Manzoor, S.R. Malarvizhi, C.A., Al-Mahmud, A., & Mahdee, J. “Investigating the impact of university image on international students”. F1000 Research [Routledge] (SCOPUS). (Forthcoming).

Manzoor, S.R. & Al Mahmud, A. (2021). “Exploring a VCB Instrument for HEIs”, International Journal of Services and Operations Managemen. (SCOPUS-Q2). (Forthcoming).

Al Mahmud, A. (2020). Postcolonial Critical Pedagogy of English Language: Formulating Good Practices. Journal of the Canadian Association for Curriculum Studies (JCACS), Vol 18, No. 01, Canada: York University.

Manzoor, S.R., Ho, J.S.Y & Al Mahmud, A. (2020). Revisiting the ‘University Image Model’ for Higher Education Institutions’ Sustainability. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, DOI: 10.1080/08841241.2020.1781736 (ISI, SCOPUS-Q1)

Al Mahmud, A. & Gupta, S. (2019). A Collaborative Action Research on Teaching Writing to the Spanish-Speaking Equatorial Guinea Students of an EFL Class at a Malaysian University College. Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies, Vol 05, No. 01, pp.01-08, DOI: https://doi.org/10.26710/jbsee.v5i1.545 (HEC Pakistan indexed)

Al Mahmud, A. & Kaosar, A. (2019). “Cross-Binary Network and Other Major Grounds for Teaching Vocabulary to Advanced Learners of English". Journal of Teaching English for Specific & Academic Purposes, Vol 7, No. 2, pp.185-197, DOI: 10.22190/JTESAP1902185A, Serbia: University of Nis.

Al Mahmud, A., Chandran, S. & Gupta, S. (2018). Teaching Writing to Chinese Speaking Students: A Collaborative Action Research. Advanced Science Letters, Vol 24, No 1, pp. 220-222. USA: American Scientific Publishers, (SCOPUS-Q3).

Manzoor, S. R. & Al Mahmud, A. (2015). Use of ICT in Teaching Introductory Marketing Principles at Tertiary Level in Malaysia. Journal of Education and Social Sciences (JESOC), Vol 1, pp. 1-19, Kuala Lumpur: Zes Rokman Resources.

Manzoor, S.R., Malarvizhi, C.A. & Al-Mahmud, A. (2021). “Investigating the Impact of University Image on International Students' Participation Behaviour”, Abstract Proceeding Book of Digital Futures International Congress 2021 (DIFCON2021), organized by Multimedia University Malaysia and Canadian University Dubai, and sponsored by Taylor & Francis Group, 21-23 June 2021, p.287.

Al Mahmud, A. (2021). Decolonizing English Language Education: In Search of a Generic Framework of Good Practices. Ireland India Institute Working Paper Series. III South Asian Studies Conference 2019, Dublin City University, 28-30 April 2021, Ireland.

Al Mahmud, A. (2019). A Postcolonial Critical Look into the Culture Content of the Public Secondary English Textbook of Bangladesh. Proceedings of ‘Bangladesh in the Next 30 Years: Challenges and Prospects’ conference. Organized by Bangladesh Development Initiative, with Yale University’s South Asian Studies Council, 22-24 March 2019, USA.  

Al Mahmud, A. (2018). ELF in Language Assessment at Malaysian HEIs: A Lexico-grammatical Analysis of English Speaking. Proceedings (Abstract Book) of Second International Conference on Multidisciplinary Contemporary Conference (2^nd ICMCR), 11-12 August 2018, Singapore.

Malarvizhi, C. A., Junainah, A., Manzoor, S. R. & Al Mahmud, A. (2017). The Impact of Marketing Strategies upon Students’ Overseas University Enrolment Decisions. In Sustainable Economic Growth, Education Excellence, and Innovation Management through Vision 2020 (29^th IBIMA Vienna Conference Proceedings), ISBN: 978-0-9860419-7-6, pp. 3000-3003 (SCOPUS Proceedings).

Al Mahmud, A., Segar, K. C. & Sriabirami, S. (2017). Teaching Writing to Malay Speaking Students: A Collaborative Action Research. Proceedings (Abstract Book) of ESP Conference, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, November 2017.

Al Mahmud, A. (2014). Binary network of postcolonial stances regarding English language and literature and its implications for Bangladesh. Proceedings (Abstract Book) of First International Conference on Social Sciences & Humanities, organized by CSSR, Independent University (IUB), 23-25 August 2014, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Al Mahmud, A. (2013). Eschatological and metaphysical perspectives in historiography: Rethinking the current global events, Proceedings of International ILEM Conference 2013 in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s office of Turkey. Istanbul, Turkey, p. 130-150.

Al Mahmud, A. & Kaosar, A. (2013). Practicable Strategies of Teacher Reflection in TESOL/ELT. Proceedings (Abstract Book) of International Conference on English Language Learning, Kuala Lumpur: UPM, Malaysia.

Al Mahmud, A. & Kaosar, A. (2010).  Teaching Vocabulary to Advanced Learners: Some Pedagogical Considerations, Proceedings of NELTA 15^th International Conference in cooperation with the Government of Nepal, British Council, Asia TEFL, IATEFL and Cambridge University Press. Kathmandu, Nepal.

Al Mahmud, A. (2009). Postcolonial language debate: decolonization with or without English and days ahead. Proceedings of First International ESL/EFL Conference Rajasthan, India, p.23-33.

Al Mahmud, A. (2021). The Impact of COVID-19 on Education in Malaysia. 3^rd Najran Virtual Healthcare Forum, held by the Ministry of Health Saudi Arabia and Najran provincial health affairs office, Najran, Saudi Arabia, 26-28 December, 2021. 

Al Mahmud, A. & Al Quaderi, G. G. (2019). Shia Concept of Imamat as a Basis for Understanding History beyond Positivism, Accepted for presentation at 5^th Annual Conference on Shi’i Studies, The Islamic College, London, UK, 27-28 April 2019.

Manzoor, S. R. & Al Mahmud, A. (2017). Testing User-Segmentation Model in Digital Communication Devices Usage Guidelines for Children in Malaysia, Accepted for presentation at International Conference on Social Sciences and Education (ICSSE), Bandung, Indonesia.

Al Mahmud, A. (2014). Formulating Good Practices for a Postcolonial Critical Pedagogy of English Language (PCPEL). Accepted for presentation at CSSE Annual Conference, University of British Columbia, 1-5 June 2019, UBC, Canada.

Al Mahmud, A. & Shaila, S. M. (2009). Use of teacher reflections for successful constructivist language teaching-learning. MELTA (Malaysia English Language Teachers’ Association) International Conference, jointly with Asia TEFL, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Al Mahmud, A. (2009). Language, culture and identity: axiomatic formulations and need for new directions in the education system of postcolonial nation-states. Accepted for presentation at 8th International Language & Development Conference jointly organized by DFID-UK, British Council Dhaka, and Ministry of Education, Bangladesh. June 2009.

Al Mahmud, A. (2008). Ngugi’s rejection and Braj Kachru’s nativization of English: two responses to linguistic imperialism and implications of the debate for Bangladesh. Proceedings of International Conference on ‘African Literature/Africa in Literature’, organized by Department of English, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

• ‘Staff Recognition’ award in appreciation of 5 years of dedicated services and commitment, Linton University College, Malaysia.
• Chief Executive Award for research excellence, Linton University College, Malaysia. 
• ‘Lecturer of the Week’ award from Linton University College, Malaysia.
• ‘Most Understanding Lecturer’ award from Students’ Representative Council, Linton University College, Malaysia

• A workshop on ‘How to Get Published’ by Centre for Sustainable Research, University Malaya and Sage Publishing, Malaysia, Nov 2018.
• Training on ‘Quantitative Data Collection and Data Analysis’ by Linton University College, Malaysia (LUC), July 2017.
• Training on ‘Outcome Based Education’ by LUC, Jan 2017.
• Training on ‘Moodle Web Portal’ by LUC, Aug 2016.
• A four half-day long training on ‘Teaching in Higher Education’ by LUC, Aug-Nov 2016.
• Training on ‘Professional Communication Skills’ by LUC, August 2016.
• Training on ‘Detecting and Avoiding Plagiarism’ by LUC, June 2016.
• Training on ‘Advanced Computer Skills: Microsoft Office 2010’ LUC, April 2016. 
• A two-half day-long workshop on ‘Teaching Methodologies & Pedagogical Skills’ by LUC, July 2012.

Umme Hani Anika, MA in English, "Bangla-English Code-Switching Variation in Messenger Chats of Different Aged Educators in Dhaka", completed in Spring 2023. 

Moriam Alam, MA in English, "English Language Efficacy of Telugu Slum Residents of Bangladesh", completed in Spring 2023. 

Sabiha Nafis Khan, MA in English, "Using Technology to Increase English Competency of University Students in Bangladesh", completed in Spring 2023.

Arpita Rozario, MA in English, ULAB, “Influence of authentic materials in ELT on the writing proficiency of high school students in Noakhali”, completed in Summer 2022

Shaoly Binte Habib, MA in English, "Linguistic Landscape of a Suburb in Dhaka City: A Case Study of Mirpur Area", completed in Fall 2022

S.M. Toukir Ahmed, MA in English, "Phonological Variables in Bangladeshi English", completed in Fall 2022

Lamia Jashim Uddin, BA in English, "The Effectiveness of ELT Classrooms Online versus Offline for Private University Students in the Post-Pandemic Bangladesh", completed in Fall 2022

Taslima Akter Mimi, BA in English, "Limitations in Cognitive Processes of Secondary School English Learners of Bangladesh", completed in Fall 2022.

 

• Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (six months long), Linton University College, Malaysia, 2017
• Completed a Persian Language Course (three months long) at Iranian Cultural Centre Dhaka, 2001
• Completed a ‘Higher Arabic Language Course for Teachers’ (two months long) under Medinah University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 1998