About

Introduction

Kia ora! My name is Dr Pii-Tuulia Nikula. I’m an Associate Professor at EIT (Eastern Institute of Technology; Te Pūkenga) in Napier, New Zealand.

I convene and lecture courses in sustainable organisations, global strategies in business and research methods, and supervise under- and postgraduate level students. My teaching is based on a constructivist approach to learning. I have extensive experience in different delivery modes, including online, online offshore, face-to-face, and blended modes. I have been actively engaged in course and programme development & coordination work, the latter including ‘Postgraduate Certificate of Educational Leadership & Management’ and ‘Master of Digital Business’.

My educational innovations include increased flexibility in assessments, teaching with online simulations, and supporting international students’ academic acculturation. My educational innovation work has been published in higher education teaching and learning conferences & journals. I also hold editorial appointments in Higher Education Research and Development and Journal of International Students.

Most of my research has a focus on social or environmental sustainability issues as they relate to organisations and higher/international education sectors. I’m particularly interested in the use and management of third parties (education agents) in international student recruitment, climate mitigation by organisations, and higher education inequalities/student funding policies.

I have published in leading academic journals, such as Studies in Higher Education, Journal of Studies in International Education and Corporate Social Responsibility & Environmental Management. I’m the co-editor of two books, ‘Sustainability in Education Abroad: Striving for Change‘ and ‘Student Recruitment Agents in International Higher Education: A Multi-Stakeholder Perspective on Challenges and Best Practices’. I’m regularly invited to present my research to academic peers, industry and media. My research has been featured in New Zealand and international media numerous times.

Before entering academia, I held leadership and management roles within the international student recruitment sector. This has made me passionate about the research-industry nexus, and I work closely with practitioners/industry to make sure that my research is relevant and impactful.

Examples of my other roles include:

• Chair of the School of Business & School of Computing Research Committee at EIT.
• Co-Convenor of the Applied Research Seminar Series (New Zealand wide)
• Co-Convenor of Te Kai a Te Rangatira research seminar at EIT.
• Co-founder and a board member of Climate Action Network for International Educators.
• Associate Editor of the ‘Journal of International Students’.
• Assistant Editor of ‘Higher Education Research & Development’
• Editorial Board Member: ‘Higher Education Quarterly’.

My qualifications include: PhD in Politics and International Relations from the University of Auckland and a Master in Social Sciences from the University of Helsinki (combined/integrated 5-year BA & MA). I also hold the New Zealand Certificate in Adult & Tertiary Teaching.

You can find my featured research outputs here or on ResearchGate