Dr Nancy Veerayen

Biography

Dr Nancy Veerayen is a British-qualified social worker specialising in international social work and community development. Her career before immigrating to Mauritius included working in child protection for UK social services. Immigrating to Mauritius, she represented Mauritius in 2005 at the British Treasury-sponsored Pan African InterAction Leadership Programme, 'Africa for Africa through Collaboration', in Kenya. Her community and education leadership roles extended to directing two Mauritian NGOs, ''Centre de Solidarité'' and ''Kinouete'', where she implemented health and safety protocols, developed rehabilitation programmes for detainees, and secured funding for Mauritius's first halfway house for female ex-detainees. She served as a UNDP Mauritius and Rodrigues national consultant, enhancing vulnerable family housing projects. As President of the Roches Brunes Community Association (2009–2012), she spearheaded projects to strengthen community well-being. She has worked for the British Council teaching English as a second language and at Clavis International Baccalaureate Primary School as a home and school mentor.

Since joining Middlesex University Mauritius in 2012, her roles have included Student Counsellor and Student Experience Coordinator where she established the Middlesex University Counselling Service, Mauritius Student Council and various student societies and Middlesex University Volunteering, building a strong sense of community and engagement on campus and within the local community. During this time, she also created and facilitated the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course for Nigerian Aptech IT Top Up students from 2013 to 2015.

In 2015, Nancy transitioned to a lecturing role within the Foundation Education programme, where she has been committed to nurturing students' academic growth. Her dedication to educational curriculum development led to her appointment as the Foundation Education Programme Coordinator from 2016 to 2019. Additionally, she served as the Head of Science and Education during this period, working with the Senior Leadership Team, middle management and overseas campuses to enhance the educational teaching and learning experience and operational coordination at the Mauritius campus.

From 2015 until 2023, Nancy was also a key player as a module coordinator for IFP 0100 Academic Writing, IFP 0200 Researching and Presenting, and IFP 0500 Integrated Subject-Based Projects. Her work in these areas has been focused on supporting students in developing essential preparatory academic skills.

She participated in and represented the International Foundation programme in the ''Effective Implementation of Quality Management Systems in Higher Education Institutions with a focus on Accreditation, Audit, and Introduction to Internationalisation", Advancing Higher Education in Mauritius, First NMT workshop 27th – 29th February 2024, Hennessey Park Hotel, Ebene, Mauritius. NMTs (https://dies-nmt.org/) are implemented by the University of Potsdam and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) under the DIES Programme Line of DAAD German Academic Exchange Service and Hochschulrektorenkonferenz.

In May 2024, Medine, Mauritius, officially launched its inaugural cohorts for the Women in Leadership and Medine Ignite development programmes through Uniciti Education Hub - Executive Education, in partnership with Middlesex University. She was selected as the Diversity in the Workplace and Presentation Skills trainer, teaching, empowering, and developing the next generation of women leaders and young intrapreneurs: driving transformation at Medine.

In September 2024, she undertook the responsibility as Foundation Education Academic Advisor, supporting students and enhancing the quality of preparatory education at Middlesex University Mauritius. Her expertise in project management, organisational development, global education, participatory teaching methods, equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging, quality and knowledge economies in higher education continues to guide her contributions to the academic community and her doctoral research. Her passion for equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging can be heard in the Middlesex University Mauritius Wellbeing podcast series 'Inclusive Voices – shaping diversity in education' https://lnkd.in/g-dnMzwP

She represented Middlesex University Mauritius at the University of Kent, UK, Digitally Enhanced Education webinar series November 2024, presenting 'Existential activities can amplify critical thinking when using Gen AI.'  (https://youtu.be/ztY13WO4GMM?si=-SykyUJFC0liazTc)

In 2025, she became part of the core programme team for the Masters and Doctorate in Professional Studies within the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education at Middlesex University, London. She also serves as a mentor with the Middlesex University Coaching and Mentoring Academy.

Teaching

From 2023 to present date: 

• Module Coordinator, Foundation Education 0610 Academic Skills and 0610 Critical Thinking 
• Module Coordinator Foundation Education 0630 Psychology Foundations in Social Science
• Serving as an independent reviewer and teaching staff for the Masters and Doctorate in Professional Studies at Middlesex University, London, UK.