Dr Kamalanathan Kajan

Profile

Dr. Kamalanathan Kajan is an Associate Professor in Electronic and Electrical Engineering with extensive experience in higher education, transnational education, curriculum development, digital learning, and engineering pedagogy. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering and a First-Class BEng (Hons) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

He is currently based at the SWJTU-Leeds Joint School in Chengdu, China, within the University of Leeds, where he contributes to teaching, programme leadership, digital education, module development, laboratory learning, assessment design, and student support across engineering programmes. His academic career includes substantial teaching and leadership experience at City, University of London, King’s College London, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and other UK-China transnational education contexts.

Dr. Kajan’s teaching practice is grounded in inclusive, active, and research-informed approaches to engineering education. He has led and contributed to modules in digital electronics, embedded systems, hardware design, engineering mathematics, programming, circuit theory, and practical electronics, with a strong emphasis on student engagement, bilingual scaffolding, laboratory-based learning, and support for students in English-medium transnational learning environments.

His research focuses on engineering education, student participation, AI-supported learning, digital education, and transnational higher education. His recent publications examine barriers to participation and classroom silence in Sino-UK engineering programmes, STEM students’ perceptions of AI chatbots, and the evolving role of lecturers in AI-integrated transnational STEM education. This work aims to develop evidence-based approaches that improve student confidence, engagement, and learning outcomes in culturally and linguistically diverse engineering classrooms.

Dr. Kajan holds a Senior Fellowship of Advance HE, a Fellowship of SEDA, and a Certified Membership of the Association for Learning Technology, reflecting his sustained commitment to teaching excellence, digital education, and the continuous enhancement of student learning.

Responsibilities

• EEE, Deputy Programme Director
• SWJTU-Leeds Joint School Digital Academic Lead

Research interests

My research focuses on engineering education, transnational higher education, digital learning, and AI-supported STEM pedagogy. I am particularly interested in how students learn, participate, and develop confidence in English-medium and culturally diverse engineering education environments.

A central strand of my research examines student participation in transnational engineering education. This work explores why academically motivated students may remain silent in active learning settings, particularly where language demands, confidence, cultural expectations, and prior educational experiences shape classroom engagement. My research aims to develop evidence-based approaches that support psychological safety, student voice, bilingual scaffolding, and inclusive active learning.

A second strand of my research focuses on artificial intelligence in STEM education. I investigate how students perceive and use AI chatbots, the benefits and risks of AI-supported learning, and the changing role of lecturers in AI-integrated teaching environments. This includes work on over-reliance, accuracy concerns, human-AI balance, student support needs, and the role of lecturers in guiding responsible AI use.

More broadly, my research connects curriculum development, digital education, assessment design, problem-based learning, and student support in engineering programmes. Through this work, I aim to contribute to more inclusive, engaging, and evidence-informed engineering education, particularly in transnational and English-medium contexts.

Qualifications

• BEng 1st Class Hons Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• PhD Electrical Engineering

Professional memberships

• Senior Fellow, Advance HE (SFHEA)
• Fellow, SEDA (FSEDA)
• Certified Member, Association for Learning and Technology (CMALT)
• Member, IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
• Member, IET (The Institution of Engineering and Technology)

Student education

My student education work focuses on inclusive, active, and research-informed approaches to engineering education within the SWJTU–Leeds Joint School. I contribute to teaching, programme development, curriculum enhancement, assessment design, laboratory learning, student support, and educational leadership across Electronic and Electrical Engineering.

My teaching portfolio includes Digital Electronics and Microcontrollers, Embedded Systems Project, Introduction to Engineering Mathematics, Algorithms and Numerical Mathematics, Practical Electronics, and the Year 1 Engineering Design Project. Across these areas, I place strong emphasis on helping students connect theoretical concepts with practical application through structured laboratories, project-based learning, design activities, formative feedback, and clear assessment guidance.

A significant part of my role involves designing and enhancing practical and project-based learning. I have contributed to laboratory supervision, laboratory management, assessment design, marking and moderation, project supervision, logbook guidance, teamwork facilitation, design-iteration support, learning outcome mapping, and assessment alignment. These activities are intended to strengthen students’ confidence, technical competence, problem-solving skills, and ability to apply engineering knowledge in authentic contexts.

The needs of students in English-medium transnational education particularly shape my teaching practice. I use inclusive teaching strategies, bilingual scaffolding where appropriate, structured explanations, interactive learning activities, and supportive feedback to help students develop both disciplinary understanding and confidence in participation. This approach reflects my broader interest in student engagement, active learning, and culturally responsive engineering pedagogy.

I am also actively involved in digital education and the use of learning technologies to enhance engagement, feedback, and student learning. My student education practice is informed by pedagogic research, professional development, student feedback, and ongoing reflection on how engineering students learn most effectively in culturally and linguistically diverse environments.