Developing a strong culture of learning and research is fundamentally shaped by the people we engage with and the intellectual communities we become part of. As Isaac Newton famously reflected, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” This insight captures a central principle of academic life: knowledge does not develop in isolation, but through dialogue, exchange, and critical engagement with the work of others. Intellectual progress depends on our ability to learn from existing scholarship, challenge it, and build upon it. In doing so, we not only extend established ideas but also create the conditions for innovation and new knowledge to emerge. 

One practical and effective way universities can enable this exchange is through a visiting lecturer initiative. Such initiatives create structured, intentional opportunities to introduce emerging research and fresh perspectives into the academic community, helping to address the risk of intellectual insularity within institutions. By extending engagement beyond institutional boundaries, they ensure that teaching and research remain dynamic, current, and globally informed. 

These engagements deliver clear reciprocal value. Visiting lecturers benefit from the opportunity to present their work, engage in critical discussion, receive feedback, and expand their professional networks. At the same time, the host institution benefits through exposure to diverse expertise, enriching both student learning and academic practice. Crucially, this is not simply an enhancement activity, but a strategic and purposeful approach to developing a culture of learning, fostering knowledge exchange, and strengthening collaboration.

Our Visiting Lecturer Initiative  

EUB’s Scientific Research and Innovation Centre (SRIC) established a Visiting Lecturer Initiative in September 2024. Through this initiative, established academics and professionals are granted the honorary title of Visiting Lecturer, creating a formal affiliation with EUB and enabling collaboration, engagement, and knowledge exchange. Visiting lecturers remain employed by their home institutions and contribute to EUB on a voluntary short-term basis, reflecting a shared commitment to academic service and the advancement of research and teaching. 

Visiting lecturers are typically invited to deliver a minimum of two sessions during their appointment, allowing for sustained engagement with students and faculty. These sessions may be research-focused, aimed at faculty and the wider academic community, or teaching-oriented, designed to enhance student learning and complement existing programmes. 

As EUB’s academic community continues to grow, the University is strengthening its connections with scholars and professionals beyond its institutional boundaries. The Visiting Lecturer Initiative contributes to this by bringing international and cross-sector expertise into the classroom and research environment. Contributors have drawn on experience from UK universities, international legal practice, and diplomatic institutions in the region, offering both subject-specific knowledge and broader insights into research, careers, and global professional practice. For students, this strengthens the connection between academic study and real-world application, while for faculty it opens opportunities for dialogue and potential collaboration. 

We extend our thanks to the first two cohort of Visiting Lecturers who have generously contributed to the EUB community: 

• Dr. Mona Moufahim – Associate Professor of Marketing, University of Stirling, UK 

• Dr. Ana Speed – Assistant Professor of Law, Northumbria University, UK 

• Dr. Sotiris Moschoyiannis – Reader in Complex Systems, University of Surrey, UK 

• Dr. Eleonora Iacorossi – Attachée for Economic, Commercial and Cultural Affairs, Italian Embassy, Bahrain 

• Mr. Bilall Maqbool – Knowledge Lawyer, DLA Piper Middle East 

Their contributions have included teaching sessions, research seminars, and employability-focused workshops, supporting both students and academic staff across the University.

Developing a Connected Research Culture 

As EUB continues to grow, initiatives such as this help shape a research environment that is collaborative, collegiate, and internationally engaged. The Visiting Lecturer Initiative sits alongside other developments, including guest speakers, research symposia, and secondments, forming part of a broader ecosystem of research activity at the University. The aim is not only to bring expertise into EUB, but to build lasting relationships with individuals and institutions. Through these connections, we are creating opportunities that support both teaching and research, while contributing to the development of a research culture that is connected, forward-looking, and sustainable.