New Professor of Children’s Reading appointed

Natalia Kucirkova, a former OU post-graduate, has joined the OU’s School of Education, Childhood, Youth and Sports as Professor of Reading.

With a background in children’s reading, including social justice in children’s literacy and research on children's use of e-books and apps, Professor Kucirkova is also an expert on personalisation and use of children's personal data.

Professor Kucirkova has worked on a number of research projects that have had a direct impact on children’s reading, including Children’s Digital Books which explores the connection between the features of children’s e-books and children’s characteristics and diverse reading environments. She is also actively involved in voluntary work of Red Cross in Norway and National Literacy Trust in the UK. She was also previously actively involved in Save The Children and BookTrust, UK.   

In addition to her role at the OU, Professor Kucirkova is also Professor of Early Childhood and Development at the University of Stavanger in Norway and Honorary Visiting Professor at University College London.

Commenting on her appointment and returning to the OU she said: “I am delighted to return to my alma mater and very excited about the opportunity to support the Centre for Literacy and Social Justice in its mission to empower young readers and writers”.

Professor Kucirkova joins the OU in July 2020