our staff

Who we are
We collaborate with leading academics and practitioners in transnational education (TNE) and teaching and learning through our regional Mentor scheme. This initiative brings together local expertise with the rich knowledge and experience of UK higher education to support high-quality, contextually informed practice.

At TNE Institute, our Board Members play a critical role in steering the direction of our business. They are dedicated to ensuring that our strategies align with current industry trends and standards. By staying informed about the latest policies and practices within the field, our Board Members are committed to guiding our organisation toward growth and success. Their expertise and insight are invaluable in shaping a future that meets the needs of our clients and stakeholders.

Our current serving Board members include:

Dr Liu Kai, COO of the University of Portsmouth, London & Director of Strategic Partnerships at Northchild Group
Dr Cheryl Yu, Director of Programmes for the TNE Institute & VP of London Global Education
Dr Mark Edwards, Director of Partnership for the TNE Institute
Professor Olgun Cicek, Director of Quality for the TNE Institute

Dr Cheryl Yu
Director of Programmes
cheryl@tneinstitute.org
With over 17 years of experience in international education across the UK and China, Cheryl combines her work as a practitioner and researcher to promote equitable and meaningful global partnerships for universities.

As an academic, Dr. Yu has published widely on topics related to international higher education, including a co-edited book titled as ‘Critical Reflections on the Internationalisation of Higher Education in the Global South’.Her latest collaborative journal article explores knowledge diplomacy and the impact of de-risking strategies on EU-China higher education partnerships. She also serves as a member of the Speciality Committee on Transnational Education of the Association of British Chinese Professors (ABCP) and Secretary of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU), which was funded by Joseph Needham in 1965.
Dr Mark Edwards
Director of Partnerships
mark@tneinstitute.org
Mark has spent over 15 years working in HE. Starting in Trial Management for health-based RCTs, Mark went on to lead a number of large strategic and organisational change projects at the Universities of Bristol and Glasgow.

Mark transitioned into consultancy in 2023 and now works across the UK, Africa and Asia. He holds a number of Associate roles with specialist HE consultancies in the UK and Dubai and is the Regional VP, Africa for SUMS consulting.

Mark has worked on a number of TNE-related projects in the UK, Singapore, and Middle East.
Professor Olgun Cicek
Director of Quality Assurance, Professor & International Higher Education Leader
Professor Cicek is an international expert on higher education and quality assurance. He is a Committee and Board member on a number of international quality assurance organisations (including QAA, THEQC, TKTA, NVAO, AQAS, FIBAA, OCQAS, and BQA). He regularly presents keynote presentations at high-profile international conferences and advises governments and higher education organisations across the world.
Olgun has a truly international background, having worked in universities across 10 countries, and with governments and HE-related organisations in many more.
Bola Ibrhaim
Regional Expert
Bola is a higher education policy and development specialist with over 15 years of experience across universities, multilateral organisations, NGOs, and consulting. He has held leadership, advisory, and consulting roles across diverse domains in education, bringing a distinctive practitioner–scholar perspective that bridges policy, research, and real-world delivery.
He is currently completing a PhD at UCL IOE, where his research examines the internationalisation of higher education and the impact of transnational education (TNE) in host countries and the Global South. A published author on higher education internationalisation and TNE, Bola’s work has informed sector studies, government strategies, and donor-funded programmes, establishing him as a leading Arab voice in global higher education.
Dr Fawad Naseer (FHEA, SMIEEE, MBCS)
Regional Expert
Dr Naseer is Associate Professor and Head of the Computer Science & Software Engineering School at Beaconhouse International College in Pakistan. Dr Naseer oversees the multi-campus delivery of UK transnational degree programmes with the University of London, University of Essex, and Liverpool John Moores University, where he also serves as Lead Internal Verifier for the LJMU BSc (Hons) Software Engineering programme.
Dr Yonghao (Leo) Wang
Expert in AI and blockchain
Leo is an Associate Professor at Birmingham City University and an expert in networking and cybersecurity. He has significant experience with blockchain and decentalised communications systems. Leo is the TNE Institute's lead IT developer and advisor.
Professor Christopher Harris
Professor in Spanish Studies, University of Lancaster
Professor Harris is the former VP at XJTLU, China, and has extensive senior academic leadership experience from the Universities of Hull, Lancaster, and Liverpool (UK). Christopher is a dedicated Athena Swan assessor. Now semi-retired with part-time roles in Modern Languages at Lancaster University and in local government and politics at Lancaster City Council.
Our Mentors and Guest Speakers

Heather McClean
Heather McClean, SFHEA, Pre-sessional Senior Coordinator at University College London; Former Education & Recognition Adviser at Queen Mary University of London. Heather McClean has over 25 years’ experience of teaching English to international students and has particular expertise in teaching and supporting Chinese students in UK higher education.
Professor Chris Harris
Professor Chris Harris, BA, PhD, SFHEA, FRSA is former Vice-President Academic Affairs at Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University in Suzhou, China, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the University of Liverpool (2018-2021). Inner Board Member, Irish Research Council (Ongoing).
Stephane Waller
Stephane Waller SFHEA, MBA is interim Programme Director of International Pathway programmes, University for the Creative Arts. Stephane has a wealth of experience and knowledge in TNE, teaching learning and assessment, as well as quality assurance of UK HE.
Professor Olgun Cicek
Professor Olgun Cicek is a life-time learner and an expert on higher education studies mainly in internationalization, policy & development, accreditation and quality assurance areas. He is willing to explore new challenges and contribute to Higher Education institutions with his 25 years of teaching, research, accreditation and quality assurance experiences and networking in global higher education in Europe, Mediterranean, Middle East, Far East and in the USA.

Dr. Midya Yousefi
Dr. Midya Yousefi is an assistant professor in the Ed.D.and MA programs at Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU), where she brings over nine years of international experience in higher education and educational leadership. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Management and an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Management.
Dr Yousefi holds strong track record of teaching and mentoring students from diverse backgrounds—including Malaysia, India, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Turkey, Zimbabwe, Bahrain, and China—Dr. Midya has cultivated a deep understanding of global education systems and cross-cultural student needs.
Dr. Lindsay Jones
Dr. Lindsay Jones is Head of Global Business Development at Queen Mary University of London, UK. Lindsay’s interest in international education began with ERASMUS Exchange Programme placements in Germany and the Netherlands. After completing her PhD, Lindsay held Postdoctoral Research Assistant posts in Ireland and the USA.

On returning to the UK, Lindsay took up a post at Manchester Business School Worldwide, managing degree programmes delivered in the Caribbean, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, New York and developing new business in China and the Gulf. At her previous role, Bangor University, Lindsay had been responsible for the operational management of TNE programmes, and her particular areas of expertise include business case development, in-country registration and approval, planning, strategy, financial modelling, due diligence and risk assessment.
Dr. Eric Baumgartner
Dr Eric Baumgartner SFHEA is Executive Dean for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Portsmouth. He has over 20 years experience working for international, Russell Group, and Modern Universities in England and Scotland. Having originally trained as a Teacher of English as Second Language, Eric is passionate about the transformational role TNE partnerships can play for international and home partners. Eric worked in senior leadership roles at a Japanese branch campus in the UK for over 12 years.
Professor Christopher Hill
Professor Christopher Hill is Vice President Research and Innovation at the Canadian University Dubai. Christopher is an expert in international higher education and TNE. He has worked in Malaysia and Dubai for almost 20 years and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in both theoretical and lived experience of working in TNE settings. Christopher has published widely on TNE in a number of countries, including recent British Council reports on TNE in Nepal and the GCC.
Dr Mark Allinson
Dr Mark Allinson is APVC Learning and Teaching and Academic Lead for the Curriculum Enhancement Project at the University of Bristol. He brings a wealth of experience in curriculum design, inclusive curriculum and institutional oversight of learning and teaching. He is a world expert in social and political history of the German Democratic Republic.
Mr Bola Ibrahim
Mr Bola Ibrahim is a PhD student at UCL's Institute of Education. Bola is a higher education policy and development specialist with over 15 years of experience across universities, multilateral organisations, NGOs, and consulting. He has held leadership, advisory, and consulting roles across diverse domains in education, bringing a distinctive practitioner–scholar perspective that bridges policy, research, and real-world delivery. Bola's PhD research examines the internationalisation of higher education and the impact of TNE in host countries and the Global South.