International recognition for Centre for Language and Education Research doctoral researcher
CLER doctoral researcher Xiaojia Lyu has received a prestigious TIRF Doctoral Dissertation Grant, recognising her research into ESP teachers' professional knowledge in Chinese higher education.
The Centre for Language and Education Research (CLER) is delighted to announce that doctoral researcher Xiaojia Lyu has been awarded a 2026 Doctoral Dissertation Grant (DDG) from The International Research Foundation for English Language Education (TIRF).
The highly competitive grant programme supports doctoral researchers whose work makes a significant contribution to advancing research in language education. In 2026, TIRF awarded a total of US$35,000 to 13 doctoral candidates from five countries. Xiaojia's award is sponsored by Cambridge English, part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
Xiaojia's doctoral research, Understanding and Constructing the ESP Knowledge Base: A Study of Language Teachers in Chinese Higher Education, examines how English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teachers in Chinese higher education construct, develop and apply their professional knowledge.
The study explores the knowledge and expertise required by language teachers working in specialised educational contexts, providing new insights into professional learning and development within the field of language education. Through investigating how ESP teachers build and draw upon their knowledge base, the research contributes to broader understandings of language teacher education and professional practice.
Xiaojia is supervised by Professor Maggie Kubanyiova and Dr Loreto Aliaga Salas within the Centre for Language and Education Research.
The award directly supports CLER's research strand on Language, Education and Professional Development, strengthening the Centre's ongoing work on language teachers' professional knowledge, expertise and development. It also reflects CLER's commitment to supporting emerging researchers whose work contributes to enhancing professional practice and educational outcomes.
Receiving a TIRF Doctoral Dissertation Grant represents significant international recognition and highlights the wider relevance of Xiaojia's research to contemporary discussions surrounding language teacher knowledge, professional learning and the development of English for Specific Purposes education.
Congratulations to Xiaojia on this outstanding achievement.
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Xiaojia's achievement highlights the opportunities available to doctoral researchers within the School of Education and the Centre for Language and Education Research. If you're interested in pursuing a PhD and contributing to world-leading research in language education, explore our postgraduate research opportunities.
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