Demir, Ema

My research focuses on educational leadership, teacher collaboration, and organisational structures that promote equity in education, particularly emphasising how school leadership and organisational dynamics influence the school environment and educational outcomes. I work on interdisciplinary projects with national and international partners to address educational policy and practice challenges, leveraging my expertise in principal leadership, teacher professional learning, and the impact of school autonomy on educational outcomes. Additionally, I use AI-driven methods to analyse long-term educational reforms in Sweden, assessing policy changes and their implications for the education system.

Education

• PhD in Education, University of Cambridge (2022)
• Master of Education, Stockholm University (2010)
• Master of Arts in English, Stockholm University (2010)
• Bachelor of Social Science (Political Science), Stockholm University (2003)
• Bachelor of Arts (English), Stockholm University (2001)

Selected Publications

• Arora-Jonsson, S., Demir, E.K., Norgren, A., & Wennberg, K. (2024). Beyond the Silver Bullet: Unveiling Multiple Pathways to School Turnaround. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 1–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/09243453.2024.2353626
• Demir, E.K. (2021). The Role of Social Capital for Teacher Professional Learning and Student Achievement: A Systematic Literature Review. Educational Research Review, 33, 100391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2021.100391
• Poekert, P.E., Swaffield, S., Demir, E.K., & Wright, S.A. (2020). Leadership for Professional Learning Towards Educational Equity: A Systematic Literature Review. Professional Development in Education, 46(4), 541–562. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2020.1787209
• Demir, E.K. (2022). Teacher Capital Unbound? The Role of Organisational Structures for Teacher Social Capital and Student Outcome. [PhD Thesis, University of Cambridge]. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.86436

Research Projects

• School Timetabling Autonomy and Educational Outcomes: Examines the impact of school-level autonomy on teacher workloads and student performance. Funded by The Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (Forte).

• Effects of School Leadership in Sweden: An Evaluation of the Principal Preparation Program 2009-2021. Funded by The Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy (IFAU).

• AI-Driven Analysis of Educational Reform in Sweden: explores policy evolution over six decades in collaboration with the Swedish National Library Lab.

• Principal Instructional Leadership and Teacher Collaboration:  Investigates the relationship between leadership practices and student outcomes in a longitudinal study of Swedish schools (IFAU).
• Absenteeism and School Performance: In partnership with a Swedish municipality.
• Early Maths Education and Teacher Professional Learning: In collaboration with a Swedish municipality.

Teaching and Mentorship
Building on my experience as a teacher, I integrate practical insights into my research. As a Lecturer in the City of Stockholm, I mentor educators and lead professional development initiatives to improve teaching practices and enhance school performance. At the Stockholm School of Economics, I am a guest lecturer for the PhD course Developing Teaching Excellence and the newly introduced Policy Ventures: Innovation in Public Organizations course. Additionally, I lead an SSE Literary Agenda group, where I foster critical discussions among students on literature and its connections to broader cultural and societal issues.

Awards and Honors

• Shortlisted for the BERA Conference Best Paper Award (2023)
• Fitzwilliam College Senior Scholarship, University of Cambridge (2021, 2019)

Community and Outreach
I am a guest editor for an upcoming special issue of the International Journal of Educational Management (IJEM), focusing on school leadership, management, and governance in Nordic countries. I regularly speak at public events and forums, sharing my expertise on school improvement, principal leadership, teacher collaboration, and equity in education.

Personal Interests
My international experiences and cross-cultural competence inform my work, adding a global perspective to my research. I am also a passionate musician, performing with a chamber choir in Sweden and abroad.