Dr Izzy Crawford - PhD
Izzy’s PhD, “Preparing Students for the Global Virtual Workplace: Examining Student, Faculty, and Employer Perceptions of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)”, marks the pinnacle of a vibrant and wide-ranging academic journey. Along the way, Izzy has gained qualifications from the University of Glasgow, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Robert Gordon University, where she also completed postgraduate certificates in Higher Education Teaching and Learning and Research Methods.
Izzy is currently the Associate Dean for Economic, Social and Cultural Development at Aberdeen Business School. This July, she celebrated 20 years as a member of staff at RGU. Originally from Carnoustie, she earned her MA (Hons) in Social Science in Glasgow before making Aberdeenshire her home, where she has lived for the past 28 years with her husband, daughter and their much-loved pets.
Izzy’s journey toward a PhD was driven by her deep commitment to teaching and her belief in the power of global collaboration.
“I believe it is more important than ever for universities to create opportunities for students to learn that we have more similarities than differences with people in other parts of the world and sharing different perspectives and working collaboratively can improve the quality of problem-solving and decision-making.
“Students today are the world leaders of tomorrow, and we owe it to them to build bridges and make positive connections for the future.”
She was particularly inspired by the rapid rise of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Student teams comprised of more than one country and more than one college or university use freely available platforms like Zoom and MS Teams to work on a collaborative project together.
“These projects are often interdisciplinary and address big global problems such as climate change. COIL projects develop students’ digital, intercultural, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills, and offer an opportunity to work alongside students anywhere in the world, without the complexity and cost of going there, although many students choose to do Study Abroad after a COIL experience.”
A pivotal moment in her research came during a visit to Nepal, where she delivered a COIL masterclass at the University of Kathmandu.
“Talking to faculty there made me question some of the underlying assumptions of my research, particularly the emphasis on COIL as preparation for the global, virtual workplace. I developed a much more critical view of globalisation, dominant knowledge systems, and digital inclusion within emerging experiential pedagogy.”
Izzy’s decision to pursue a PhD was also heavily influenced by her professional role. When she joined RGU after a decade in communications management, she quickly discovered that teaching was her true vocation.
The rigour of doctoral work demanded substantial personal time and commitment, but Izzy credits her success to the unwavering support team around her, who encouraged her throughout.
“My family, friends and colleagues were all incredibly supportive and tolerated my study absences. However, special thanks must go to my wonderful supervisory team, Professor Simon Burnett and Dr Pauline Bremner. Their wisdom, patience, and guidance were vital ingredients in getting me over the finishing line.”
Izzy’s PhD story includes an unexpected twist. She originally began her doctoral studies on an entirely different topic, focusing on employee engagement within Higher Education. Midway through, she realised her passion lay in COIL and made the bold decision to change topics. This shift reignited her curiosity and ultimately shaped the research she proudly completes today.
“My research has taken me all over the world, both physically and virtually. I have met some fascinating and inspiring people along the way, many of whom I have remained good friends with, and some of whom I may never meet in person!”