As an interdisciplinary global scholar of media, technology, and culture— with over a decade of experience across the media, cultural, and entrepreneurial sectors as a broadcast journalist, executive producer, and start-up founder— Dr. Wafa Khalfan brings to academia insights that few scholars possess. Her professional background informs her teaching and research, enabling her to integrate real-world media practice into the classroom while producing scholarship that speaks directly to industry and policy.
Dr. Wafa Khalfan’s pedagogy was shaped at the University of Glasgow, during her time as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Information Studies (for courses like Multimedia Analysis & Design and Digital Creativity). Her commitment to teaching excellence was reinforced through a series of competitive training programs, beginning with the Introduction to Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (ILTHE), followed by Developing as a Teacher in Higher Education (DAT HE). These programs form part of the University of Glasgow’s Recognising Excellence in Teaching (RET) framework, which is aligned with the UK Professional Standards Framework (PSF). Through this pathway, she earned her Associate Fellowship (RET AF) in 2021.

Learning and Teaching Philosophy

Dr. Wafa Khalfan is keen on empowering learners to improve their employability skills and entrepreneurial mindset by:

  • developing their critical thinking tools.
  • safeguarding an inclusive space for free academic speech.
  • maintaining their well-being.
  • providing guidance for learning, creating, and progressing.

Teaching

Dr. Wafa Khalfan has delivered various ACEJMC and CAA accredited degree courses across undergraduate and postgraduate programs. She has complemented this teaching with the development of inclusive curricula and the design of original syllabi.

  • Audio Production (Undergraduate Course)
  • Introduction to Journalism (Undergraduate Course)
  • Media & Society (Undergraduate Course)
  • Media in the United Arab Emirates (Undergraduate Course)
  • Online Journalism (Undergraduate Course)
  • Video Shooting and Editing (Undergraduate Course)
  • Mass Media and Society (Postgraduate Course)
  • Qualitative Research Methods (Postgraduate Course)
  • Seminar in Journalism (Postgraduate Course)
  • Seminar in Media Management (Postgraduate Course)

Supervision

Dr. Wafa Khalfan has supervised undergraduate capstone projects and postgraduate theses between 2022 and 2025. Her supervisory practice emphasizes mentorship and capacity building, helping students develop critical thinking, independence, and transferable skills that extend beyond the classroom.

  • Capstone Projects:
  • Beyond Borders – Media-based research project on international humanitarian aid (Ghaya Alabdouli)
  • Invisible Scars – Film project on mental health (Lamis Almohareb)
  • The Golden Challenge – Film project (Jawdat Alalami, Bilal Khan)
  • Threads of Hope – Multiplatform digital campaign on unemployment (Besan AlZamqan, Maitha Alketbi)
  • Young Minds – Tech start-up prototype focused on education (Jawaher Al Suwaidi, Sarah Bin Ghilan)
  • Thesis Supervision and Co-Authorship with Postgraduate Researchers:
  • An Exploratory Study of Cinema Production in the United Arab Emirates — Aseel Ali (Sole Supervisor)
  • Beyond Traditional Boundaries: Feminism Among Emirati Women on Social Media — Nada AlShamsi (Sole Supervisor)
  • Creative and Cultural Spaces in the United Arab Emirates: The Role of Art and Communication in Social Development — Tayseer AlMubarak (Sole Supervisor)
  • The Impact of Social Media During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Vaccination and Precautions — Jehan AlNaqbi (Sole Supervisor)
  • The Role of Social Media in Promoting Heritage and Culture: A Case Study of Government Institutions in the Eastern Region of Sharjah — Khawla Alqaydi (Sole Supervisor)