drs. R.F. (Rina) de Vries

I started out as a social geographer and non-Western demographer; my MSc thesis concentrated on infant mortality in developing countries. Later I worked in the Department of Sociology at Utrecht University, where I did research on female employment and fertility.

After completing an MA in English, I began my teaching career, specialising in English for Academic Purposes (EAP). In 2013 I joined Birmingham International Academy at the University of Birmingham. At BIA, I was a programme coordinator, curriculum developer, and EAP tutor. I also acted as BIA’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity champion. I am a Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy and a certified Intercultural Trainer.

In 2022, I moved to the University of Groningen, first teaching Academic English Skills at the Language Centre. I am now employed as an Educational Development Officer Diversity and Inclusion at FEB. I’m also part of the Skills Team at FEB, providing Intercultural Training on the Study Abroad programme.

I have a special interest in the internationalisation of higher education, inclusive classroom communication, and intercultural learning and teaching in the international classroom