Dr Zinnia Mevawalla

Lecturer

Strathclyde Institute of Education

Personal statement

Dr Zinnia Mevawalla is a Lecturer in Early Years Education at the University of Strathclyde. She has had the privilege of learning, teaching and researching with children, families, practitioners, and diverse communities across the world, including Australia, Cambodia, India, Timor Leste, and the United Kingdom. Zinnia’s work spans participatory, play-based and arts-informed methodologies, and her research explores critical consciousness, disability equity education, inclusive pedagogies, and the rights of children in the early years. She is Principal Investigator on the Changing Hearts and Minds Programme for Inclusive Education in the Early Years (CHAMP) working with local council colleagues and international collaborators, to reimagine inclusive education as a shared process of transformation.

Expertise

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Prize And Awards

Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Canberra, Australia: Recipient; 1/1/2022
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Canberra, Australia: Recipient; 1/12/2024

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Qualifications

PhD in Early Childhood Education - Macquarie University, Australia
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)(Hons)(1st class) - Macquarie University, Australia

Publications

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Publications

Inclusive Education in the Early Years : Right from the Start: Cologon Kathy, Mevawalla Zinnia; (2023)
Behaviour as communication : counter-stories of resistance and dignity work: Mevawalla Zinnia, Cologon Kathy, Hayden Jacqueline, Hadley Fay; Equity and Excellence in Education Vol 54, pp. 285-302 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1080/10665684.2021.1992602
Starting from pedagogy : supporting children’s ethical and playful involvement in early childhood research: Arnott Lorna, Mevawalla Zinnia, Wall Kate; International Journal of Early Years Education Vol 32, pp. 791-795 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2024.2440234
Participatory methods for understanding 0-3s' technology use in family homes: Arnott Lorna, Mevawalla Zinnia; Early Years Educator Vol 24, pp. 1-3 (2024); https://doi.org/10.12968/eyed.2024.24.9.12
Scottish Ballet Safe to Be Me Research Evaluation Report: Mevawalla Zinnia, Molyneaux Kate, Taylor Yvette, Wall Kate; (2024)
Toddlers, tech and talk : parental mediation of very young children's early language and literacy learning with digital media at home: El Gemayel Sandra, Goodall Janet, Flewitt Rosie, Arnott Lorna, Gillen Julia, McLaughlin Katrina, Mevawalla Zinnia, Winter Karen; British Education Research Association Conference (2023)

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Teaching

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Teaching

Zinnia teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate programs in early years, childhood practice and inclusive education in the Strathclyde Institute of Education. She is also involved in the supervision of PGR students.

Research

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Research Interests

Zinnia is interested in understanding how initiatives and practices in the early childhood can foster social inclusion for children, families/caregivers and communities. Using critical and resistance theories, her work focuses on listening to children, families/caregivers and community stakeholders who experience systematic exclusion in diverse international contexts. Her focus is on research which examines barriers and the potential for inclusion, equity, participation and transformative resistance. Zinnia is also interested in research which explores how educators, transdisciplinary professionals and community stakeholders work across early childhood contexts to support children and families/caregivers who experience social exclusion.

Professional Activities

Knowledge is power, but ignorance is bliss? Critical consciousness and implications for inclusive practice in the early years.: Speaker; 28/3/2024
Understanding Disability and Ableism: Speaker; 20/3/2025
Reflecting on CHAMPS: Speaker; 30/6/2025
Behaviour and Communication for Inclusion: Speaker; 29/5/2025
Changing Hearts and Minds Programme (CHAMP): Speaker; 21/5/2025
Interprofessional Partnership and Transdisciplinary Working: Speaker; 8/5/2025

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Projects

Changing Hearts and Minds for Inclusive Education in the Early Years: Mevawalla, Zinnia (Principal Investigator) Fulton, Jackie (Co-investigator) Catlin, Jane (Co-investigator) Cologon, Kathy (Co-investigator) Harper-Abdullah, Margaret (Co-investigator) McConnell, Gillian (Co-investigator); This project is a collaboration between Glasgow City Council (GCC) and the Strathclyde Institute of Education. It aims to support leaders in early years settings by equipping them with knowledge, strategies, and research-driven insights to enhance inclusive practices.; 17-Jan-2025
Developing teaching professionals’ knowledge and skills in AI technologies for inclusive and equitable education: Wang, Yuchen (Principal Investigator) Abel, Andrew (Co-investigator) Jia, Laibing (Co-investigator) Noor Ul Ain, N (Researcher) Mevawalla, Zinnia (Co-investigator) Catlin, Jane (Co-investigator) Devasya, Ashwitha (Researcher) Tripathy, Aditi (Researcher) Nikou, Stavros (Co-investigator) Roxburgh, David (Co-investigator) Robinson, Deborah (Co-investigator); This project is to co-design a professional learning programme on AI and inclusive education with teachers and student teachers, funded by EPSRC (£9,961).; 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2026
ASN & Inclusion: Here and now, co-creating everyday possibilities for the inclusion of every child: Catlin, Jane (Principal Investigator) Mevawalla, Zinnia (Principal Investigator) Wang, Yuchen (Principal Investigator); This session is for all educators who wish to deepen and extend
their thinking around working with and for an increasingly diverse learning
community. We will explore concepts from key scholars in the field of
inclusive education to unpack what ‘inclusion’ and ‘additional support
needs’ should mean for practice. We offer an opportunity to develop
strengths-based perspectives and identify positive actions we can all take on
these pressing issues for our current times.; 11-Jan-2025 - 11-Jan-2025
Here and now: Co-creating everyday possibilities for the inclusion of every child: Catlin, Jane (Principal Investigator) Mevawalla, Zinnia (Principal Investigator) Wang, Yuchen (Principal Investigator); 21-Jan-2024 - 21-Jan-2024
Safe to Be Me - Evaluation: Mevawalla, Zinnia (Principal Investigator) Taylor, Yvette (Co-investigator) Wall, Kate (Co-investigator) Molyneaux, Kate (Researcher); 01-Jan-2022 - 15-Jan-2024
Embracing Diversity Through Picturebooks: Mevawalla, Zinnia (Principal Investigator); A professional development workshop on using picture books to embrace diversity.; 27-Jan-2022 - 31-Jan-2024