Dina Tsagari | Arts and Humanities | Best Researcher Award

Prof Dina Tsagari, Oslo Metropolitan Unversity, Norway

Professor Dr. Dina Tsagari is a renowned scholar in English Language Pedagogy and TESOL, currently serving at the Department of Primary and Secondary Teacher Education at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), Norway. With a strong background in language assessment, multilingual education, and teacher education, she leads several international research initiatives and academic collaborations. As the head of the Evaluation and Assessment (EnA) group and founder of the Classroom-based Language Assessment SIG under EALTA, she plays a pivotal role in shaping language assessment practices across Europe. She is actively involved in EU-funded projects, including Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020, and frequently teaches and supervises doctoral-level research. Her global impact is reflected through her contributions to PhD training, cross-national networks, and policy-driven research. Her work bridges theory and practice, with a special focus on teacher development, multilingualism, and equitable assessment.

Publication Profile

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Education

Dr. Dina Tsagari holds advanced degrees in English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, with a specialization in Language Testing and Assessment. Her academic journey began with undergraduate studies in English Philology, followed by a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics. She later completed her PhD with a focus on language assessment, teacher education, and classroom-based evaluation. Throughout her education, she developed expertise in second language acquisition, curriculum design, and assessment methodologies. Her doctoral research laid the foundation for her influential career in language testing, multilingual education, and teacher professional development. In addition to her formal degrees, Dr. Tsagari has received specialized training and certifications through international academic programs, further enriching her understanding of educational systems in Europe and beyond. Her educational background supports her interdisciplinary research, integrating linguistics, pedagogy, and educational technology in innovative ways that influence both academic and policy realms globally.

Experience

Professor Tsagari has held various academic and leadership roles across Europe. Since joining OsloMet, she has led key initiatives in multilingual education and teacher training. She serves as the leader of the Evaluation and Assessment (EnA) research group and coordinates the PhD course “Assessment and Learning” offered in partnership with the University of South-Eastern Norway. She has extensive experience as a lecturer, supervisor, curriculum developer, and project leader. Dr. Tsagari is also an active participant in European research collaborations, including Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020 projects. She has coordinated or contributed to projects involving over 20 European institutions, advancing education policy, teacher mobility, and inclusive pedagogy. Her previous affiliations include working with teacher training institutes and universities across Germany, Greece, and the UK. Her contributions to teacher education, assessment literacy, and multilingualism have made her a sought-after speaker, consultant, and academic leader in European education reform.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Dina Tsagari has been recognized for her contributions to international education and academic excellence. In November 2024, she was awarded the ERASMUS Teaching Staff Mobility Grant to teach at Cyprus Open University. She has consistently received funding from prestigious European programs such as Horizon 2020, Erasmus+, and Nordplus, totaling millions in research support. Her leadership in large-scale EU projects such as TEFF, TREL, and KIDS4ALLL has positioned her as a key influencer in European educational research. She has also been distinguished through collaborative honors like her selection to lead COST Action working groups, especially in bi/multilingual education. Additionally, her invited roles as PhD course coordinator and keynote speaker in academic events underscore her standing in the field. Her awards are not just acknowledgments of research but reflect her impact on shaping inclusive, evidence-based teacher education policies throughout Europe.

Research Focus

Professor Tsagari’s research revolves around language assessment, teacher education, multilingualism, and inclusive pedagogy. She is deeply invested in Classroom-Based Language Assessment (CBLA) and the washback effect of testing on language teaching and learning. Her projects explore teachers’ assessment literacy, the use of technology in language assessment, and policy-based educational innovation. She leads and collaborates on research investigating research literacy among educators, bi/multilingual disciplinary literacies, and mobility in teacher education. Her work often adopts comparative and interdisciplinary approaches across countries and educational levels. Through leadership in projects like TEFF, TREL, and KIDS4ALLL, she aims to enhance teacher training systems, promote inclusivity, and prepare educators for evolving educational landscapes. Dr. Tsagari is also committed to developing evidence-based frameworks and materials that support equitable learning outcomes in linguistically diverse classrooms, making her research both theoretically rich and practically impactful.

Publication Top Notes

• 📘 Teaching English to Diverse Students – Mahan, R.K. & Tsagari, D. (Routledge, in preparation)

• 📘 Coherent English Teacher Education: Finding Common Ground in Primary and Lower Secondary Teacher Education – Chvala, L. & Tsagari, D. (Cappelen Damm, in preparation)

• 📘 Assessing Multilingual Young Learners – Vogt, K. & Tsagari, D. (Multilingual Matters, in preparation)

• 📝 Multilingualism and Test Washback – Tsagari, D., Lopriore, L., & Vogt, K. (in Allen D.B., Ed. Routledge, in preparation)

• 📝 Exploring Pre-service English Language Teachers’ Research Self-Efficacy Beliefs – Gokturk-Saglam, A.L., Dikilitas, K., & Tsagari, D. (The Language Learning Journal, in preparation)

• 📝 Investigating the Effectiveness of Online LAL Materials for English Language Teachers in the Norwegian Context – Mavroudi, A., Tsagari, D., & Saglam, A. (Computers in Education, in preparation)

• 📝 Online Language Teacher Assessment Literacy: International Case Studies – Gokturk-Saglam, L.A., Sevgi-Sole, E., Vogt, K., & Tsagari, D. (in preparation)