HASS Inaugural Lecture Professor Salah Troudi

The faculty are warmly welcomed to attend Professor Salah Troudi’ Inaugural Lecture, taking place on 12th November 2025 Wednesday in North Cloisters 12, St Lukes Campus, University of Exeter.

Our standard running order for the event is as follows:

• 15:45 Doors Open

• 16:00 Welcome/Introductory Speech by DPVC

• 16:05 Lecture

• 16:55 Closing Comments by HoD

• 17:00 Drinks Reception

• 18:00 Finish

Professor Salah Troudi's bio 

Salah went to school and university in Tunisia. After his first degree in English language and literature he won a national scholarship for a master’s in English studies. His research was on the effects of social class on the learning of English in Tunisian secondary schools. In his school years he played football for two teams in Tunis, both are in the Tunisian top division. He also spent years with the scouts travelling around the country and camping in places like Austria, Turkey, Switzerland and Italy. Those were great years of fun and long-lasting friendships. 

He also won scholarship to do a master’s in teaching English for Specific Purposes at Aston University, England where he did a dissertation on computer assisted language learning and met his wife, Susan. Then he went to the USA on a Fulbright scholarship and did a PhD in Multilingual and Multicultural education and TESOL at Florida State University. In Florida he also played football for FSU and taught English and lectured on the Maters in TESOL.  

After the USA he moved to the United Arab Emirates University where he spent almost 7 years teaching English for Academic Purposes and overseeing professional development for the academic members of staff. He was one of the founding members of the TESOL Arabia Organisation which grew to become an international body. In the UAE he played football for the Al Ain Amateur Team and won the national cup in 2000. He still keeps the medal. 

He moved to Exeter end of 2001 to work on the TESOL programme. For 17 years, 2002 till end of 2019, he was the director of the Doctor of Education in TESOL programme in Dubai. He also designed the Summer Intensive MED in TESOL which lasted10 years. He continues to coordinate the Doctoral Research Forum which he started 14 years ago.  

Apart from his academic work, teaching, supervising PhDs and MA students and publishing papers, he was involved for many years with the international student office in recruitment of international students representing the university in major international fairs in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Malaysia. He is a member of the Race and Equality University Group. 

He has been a visiting professor and plenary speaker in countries like the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Dominican Republic, Tunisia, Qatar, Greece, Indonesia, Turkey, England, and the USA. He also did academic visits to Malaysia and Japan.  

He cooperates with a large network of international academics, heads of departments and deans, some of them are his past students.  He also volunteers to give lectures and training to teachers in Tunisia.  

At the School of Education Salah represents Africa and the Arab world being the only member of academic staff from these vast parts of the world.  

In England Salah finally received his football coaching certificate for young players from the Football Association (FA) which marks an important achievement. He never really managed to use it professionally, but it is still a source of fulfillement.   Academia and football: two different worlds but both are a source of and joy stress!!