Mallika has got experience in teaching and research. She works as a senior lecturer and teaches on different Early Childhood undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

Mallika has been in the field of Higher Education since 2000 and has teaching and research experience within the UK and India in the subject of early childhood. Her academic experience has been that of a senior lecturer and course leader for BA (Hons) Early Years Education and BA (Hons) Early Years Professional Practice courses. Mallika also has training experience as a head instructor for Integrated Child Development Services training centre, in Rajasthan, India.

Mallika’s current research interest is around the usefulness of participatory research and its place as an alternative approach to conventional research in education contexts. Her research focuses around the pedagogical use of participatory approaches in early years as well as in higher education. She has published this work under the strand of children’s participatory rights in early years and students’ voice in higher education. Her other research interest is around children’s socio-emotional development and the importance of peer relationship in early years.

Mallika’s main teaching is around children’s rights, childhood research, early years practitioners professional development, the broader contexts of early years practice and specialist studies. She teaches both face-to-face and online groups, as well as on the modules that run across regional institutions. Part of her role is also supporting the undergraduate and postgraduate students in their major projects.