Associate Dr Arzhia Habibi

Arzhia Habibi completed her PhD in Education at Oxford’s Department of Education having lived and attended kindergarten in China as a child. She drew on these early experiences to conduct her doctoral research in Mandarin, which explores Global Citizenship Education in Chinese universities.

Since January 2023, she is working as a multi-faith director at Somerville College in Oxford, organising weekly multi-lingual 'Choral Contemplations’ a programme which centres music, poetry and writings rooted in the world’s sacred traditions. 

With these experiences and wider commitments to working with and caring for vulnerable adults and young people, Arzhia brings an intersectional lens to her understandings of trauma and care.

"Arzhia, my brilliant colleague, sees education as a means to empowerment, the un-learning of harmful behaviours and a means of creating a culture of kindness and justice. Compassion guides her actions as does our ethos of inclusivity. Sensitive to the needs of others she has the courage to bring about change."

Jan Royall, Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, Principal of Somerville College, University of Oxford