Contact
- Email: Email Sitara Akram at s.akram@leeds.ac.uk
- Phone: Call Sitara Akram on +44(0)113 343 7894
- LinkedIn: View Sitara’s LinkedIn profile
My role
I am a member of the Lifelong Learning Centre’s senior management team, with responsibility for governance, operational resilience, people and change leadership, strategic and financial planning and stakeholder engagement. I lead a Customer Service Excellence accredited team with expertise in designing excellent support services for diverse student cohorts.
I believe in the power of education to uplift individuals and communities and am committed to lifelong learning. My passion is to ensure that students from under-represented backgrounds receive excellent support throughout their study at Leeds. I work with teams across the LLC and the wider University to ensure that the LLC offers integrated teaching and support provision to all of our learners, including mature undergraduate students, from their first point of enquiry through to graduation and beyond.
I work closely with senior leaders in faculties and services to ensure that our work is joined up and delivers on the objectives set out in the University’s Access and Student Success Strategy and Access and Participation Plan.
I am also an inaugural Civic Exchange Fellow and am actively seeking to collaborate to widen adults' educational opportunities and welcome new civic partnerships with communities, local and regional organisations and adult education providers. If I can support your work in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Research interests
I am a visiting researcher for the Iqbal Centre for Critical Muslim Studies and hold a doctorate in Islamic finance with research interests in Islamic law. I have taught undergraduate and postgraduate students at Leeds and delivered community education and CPD in Islamic studies. My doctoral thesis, Riba Reconstructed, is available to view online.
Professional memberships
I am a member of the British Association for Islamic Studies (BRAIS).