Wenyu Li

I am a PhD candidate in Special Educational Needs and Inclusive Education at the School of Education, University of Exeter, fully funded by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and the University of Exeter PhD Scholarships. My doctoral research is situated within disability studies and inclusive education, with a particular focus on how perceptions of disability and inclusion shape the educational opportunities available to students with disabilities in China. I am supervised by Dr George Koutsouris and Dr Taro Fujita.

I have presented my PhD research at the British Educational Research Association (BERA) Annual Conference (2025) and attended the London International Conference on Inclusive Education (LICIE, 2025).

I am also a student committee member of the Wellbeing, Inclusion and Disability in Education (WIDER) Research Centre at the University of Exeter, contributing to the coordination of academic events and supporting interdisciplinary dialogue on disability, inclusion, and wellbeing.

Alongside my doctoral research, I am actively engaged in teaching-related activities, peer mentoring, and academic leadership. I hold Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA). Between September 2023 and August 2025, I have mentored over ten Master’s students across different programmes within the School of Education, providing both academic guidance and pastoral support. This work has been recognised through the Postgraduate Experience Award for Peer Mentoring (2024). In addition, I serve as an Academic Representative (2023-2025), advocating for international students and supporting their academic and social integration within the university community.

I am the co-organiser of the 2025 Researcher-Led Initiative (RLI) at the University of Exeter, co-organizing with Minlin Zou and Katy Humberstone.  “Finding your footprint: Traditional research impact and beyond for Postgraduate and Early Career Researchers across Exeter.” This initiative comprises a four-part workshop series exploring academic impact, peer review and job-hunting, broader social and environmental contributions, and mapping research impact across disciplines.

In 2024, I was a student committee member of the China–UK Higher Education Young Talent Alliance (HEYTA). My responsibilities have included designing bilingual conference materials, coordinating delegate registration, and supporting cross-cultural academic exchange.

Qualifications:

University of Exeter, School of Education; Master in Internation Education (Distinction)