Our faculty

Dr. Sara Santos

Head of Data Science

Dr. Sara Santos is a mathematician by training (BSc University of Porto, 2001; PhD University of Manchester in 2005), and an experienced university teacher at all levels with emphasis on communication of mathematical processes. Sara is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and is particularly committed to supporting all learners to achieve their personal best as part of a learning community. She is curious about Complex Instruction and group work, both face-to-face and online, and uses digital technology in teaching and learning, both for skill mastery and for deepening understanding of the subject.

She authored and led the online module Numerical Mathematics for the BSc Computer Science; the first online degree offered by University of London, hosted by Coursera. She also brings her experience as a school teacher, street performer (with maths, science and engineering) to the mix.


Why did you join Forward?


"Forward's mission to empower learners to be autonomous learners, and the emphasis on multiple intelligences caught my attention. One of the other attractions for me was to work with extremely talented colleagues that want to implement Forward's bold mission.

As a knowledge society heavily driven by data and with computational power at our fingertips, we can no longer afford approaching mathematics in traditional ways. We also cannot afford a fixed mindset approach to an individual's competence in mathematics. Here at Forward, students engage actively and critically with mathematics (my subject), and render the knowledge operational in the context of their interests, whilst being supported to explore the unique way they think mathematically.

I've worked in great places and with great people at other institutions, I am aware of the pressures many institutions are under that result in teaching approaches dictated by business needs rather than by pedagogy. At Forward we follow teaching best-practice and implement Flipped Classroom teaching technologies.

Forward College is a bold new offer to students but also to all of us. I think society at large benefits from having people studying at an institution that focuses on multiple-intelligences and, from day one, factors into the equation the social impact of our individual and collective actions.

Dr. Gemma Gordon

Head of Psychology

Dr. Gemma Gordon was a researcher in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience in King’s College London (KCL), where she obtained a PhD in Psychological Medicine. She has taught on the BSc in Psychology programme at KCL and at the University of London (UoL), where she authored and led the Social Psychology module for the UoL BSc Psychology.

In KCL, her doctoral research entailed developing a non-invasive brain-targeted treatiment for binge eating disorder. She designed and led a randomised controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation and cognitive bias modification, and evaluated both neurocognitive and clinical outcomes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she volunteered within the NHS as part of an interdisciplinary team of academics, psychiatrists and psychologists offering remote support to eating disorder patients. Prior to joining KCL, Gemma developed an interest in cross-cultural psychology while working in Northern Thailand, and subsequently completed an MSc in Social and Cultural Psychology at the London School of Economics (LSE). Her studies at the LSE have shaped her teaching ethos, which is based on a holistic approach to understanding the human mind, paying attention to the impact of the environment and less visible social and cultural forces upon the processes of human cognition. Gemma is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and enjoys running in nature with her two dogs, adopted from shelters in Spain and Portugal.


Why did you join Forward?


"I was fortunate to gain teaching experience in psychology in a world-leading university, and had been mulling over ways in which some modifications to the teaching paradigm might enrich student and staff engagement. Forward offered the opportunity to be part of a new institution seeking to enhance the traditional university experience. Teaching smaller class sizes with more time allocated to debate, and to apply, rather than reveal, academic material was an exciting proposal. The study of psychology lends itself well to a more dynamic educational framework, and the opportunity to explore ways in which this could be realised was a chance I didn’t want to pass up. The prospect of embarking on a double degree across three European cities might seem daunting to some, and a genuine curiosity to interact with the student cohort who were attracted to this brave new Forward offering was an additional allure."

Dr. Ruairidh Brown

Head of International Relations

Dr. Ruairidh Brown received his PhD from the University of St Andrews in 2017. Between 2017 and 2021, Ruairidh taught Politics and History in mainland China. His experience here focused on introducing predominantly Chinese students to the western Higher Education system for the first time. He was awarded the Lord Dearing Award by the University of Nottingham in 2019 for outstanding teaching, based on an immersive learning approach focusing on applying knowledge to debates, scenarios, and one’s physical surroundings.

His academic interest lies in Political Philosophy. He published his first book, Political Encounters, in 2019 on the subject of obligations. He is currently writing a second book which examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on political norms. In addition to academic writing, He also seeks to engage in public debate through writing for news outlets and political magazines. He has published articles to this effect with Bella Caledonia, The Conversation, The Loop, and The South China Morning Post.


Why did you join Forward?


"I applied to join Forward College after reading on their website the use of a quote from Søren Kierkegaard referencing the notion of life being a continually unfolding journey through existence. The quote made me apply, not just because Kierkegaard is one of my favourite philosophers, but it encapsulates something I believe to be a very true about education: learning is not about memorising facts, figures, or dates, but developing an understanding of the world and one’s place within it. In this sense, learning is very much a journey through existence rather than the passive activity of observing and memorising.

Discovering further about Forward’s focus on developing five areas of human development, personal development, and small teaching groups, I realised this was an institution who really cared about developing human beings and laying the foundation for their journey through existence. It was an institution that shared my pedagogical philosophy and I really wanted to be a part of it."

Dr. Marina Pérez de Arcos

Head of Politics and History and Head of Institutional Relations

Dr. Marina Pérez de Arcos has taught International Relations (IR) and Politics for eight years at the University of Oxford and four years at the London School of Economics, where she won a Best Teacher Award. She was the first Hispanic Research Fellow at the Rothermere American Institute, Oxford, co-founder and Coordinator of Spanish Studies at Oxford, and co-founder of the Global Thinkers Project to promote diversity in the discipline of IR. She has published in Contemporary European History, International History Review, La Revista de Occidente, Hispanic Research Journal, Atlantisch Perspectief, Bulletin of Spanish Studies, and Letra Internacional. Her research interests lie in Transatlantic Relations, European Integration and Cold War History, and International Organisations. She has held Fellowships at Humboldt University Berlin, Nova Lisbon, and Sciences Po Paris. Marina earned her DPhil (PhD) and MPhil in International Relations at Oxford, and a BA in History and Economics at the University of York. She is a polyglot, a passionate teacher, and has policy experience at municipal, ministerial and presidential levels in France, Britain, and Spain.

Dr. Bernardo Melo Pimentel

Head of Economics and Teaching & Learning Coordinator

Dr. Bernardo Melo Pimentel holds a PhD in Management with a specialisation in Entrepreneurship from Nova SBE. He teaches undergraduate, master/executive, and doctoral-level programmes at the University of Lisbon, Nova SBE, and Audencia Business School. Before joining Forward, Bernardo held Fellowships at Instituto Superior Técnico, Politécnico de Leiria, and Vlerick Business School. Bernardo has co-authored a handbook in Operations Management and his research has been published in Portuguese and international outlets. His most recent contributions study the attractiveness of symbolic capital in cultural organisations. Bernardo’s teaching approach emphasises the acquisition and consolidation of hard- and soft-skills through the development of critical thinking.


Why did you join Forward?


"Work in higher education for long enough and you’re bound to realise the extent to which it shapes the way future professionals approach, frame, and solve problems. The knowledge you accumulate during the course of an average university degree stays with you long after your graduation day and will likely inform your actions and decisions as a practitioner of a field for the rest of your professional career. That is why I joined Forward. Pedagogy isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Different people have different learning needs and respond differently to different approaches. At Forward, we embrace this diversity and strive to provide the best pedagogical experience and environment.
Over the years I have taught a number of subjects to audiences from different backgrounds and countries of origin. The most common thread has been the need to adapt teaching methods and styles to distinct student requirements. Often, large class sizes, crystallised structures, and lack of resources meant that pedagogy was a compromise rather than a priority.
Forward’s proposition is different. The blend of state-of-the-art pedagogical techniques with a rich, interdisciplinary curriculum and the diverse international experience offered by our programs create a custom-tailored education offer. This is why I’m joining Forward: a path for improving on human intelligences!"

Dr. Miguel Freitas

Lecturer

Dr. Miguel Freitas is a developmental psychologist and a member of the William James Center for Research at ISPA-Instituto Universitário. He especialises in the study of peerrelations as a context for socio-emotional development during adolescence. He has also taught modules on developmental psychology and on basic research methods to a wide range of students, on both BSc and MSc in Psychology at ISPA-Instituto Universitário and at Universidade Europeia. As an educator, he believes that it is crucial to establish a good rapport with the students, which carries on throughout their academic journey. This will contribute to the empowerment of international undergraduate students on fundamental competencies when facing research problems and thus promoting scientific culture and practices.

Dr. Ana Rita Nunes

Lecturer

Dr. Ana Rita Nunes is a pharmacology and neurobiology-experienced researcher. She holds a degree in Biochemistry from the University of Lisbon, and a PhD in Life Sciences-Pharmacology from NOVA University Lisbon, having spent about 4.5 years at Johns Hopkins University, USA as a visiting student. Her most recent research, carried out at Weizmann Institute, Israel and Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Portugal, is focused on the fundamental neuronal mechanisms underlying social behaviour.
She has lectured neurobiology-related courses to undergraduate and graduate students at ISPA, Instituto Universitário-Lisboa and has been involved in educational outreach activities. She believes that scientific education in society is crucial for critical thinking and informed decision-making.

Dr. Marco Nievergelt

Academic Programmes Coordinator

Dr. Marco Nievergelt is a specialist in European Comparative Literature, with a particular interest in cultural history, interdisciplinarity, and multilingualism. He holds degrees from the Universities of Lausanne and Glasgow as well as a DPhil (PhD) from the University of Oxford. He has previously taught and held fellowships at the Universities of Geneva, Lausanne, Warwick, Oxford, and the Paris Institute for Advanced Studies. His most recent work explores the speculative, cognitive, and philosophical potential of literary texts, particularly poetry from the mediaeval period. Above all he is passionate about building intellectually engaging, intense, and mutually enriching relations between students and their tutors.




At FORWARD COLLEGE he coordinates all teaching and learning activities on the academic programme.

Dr. Andrée Sursock

Head of Quality Enhancement and Sustainability

Dr. Andrée Sursock is Senior Advisor at the European University Association (EUA) with a focus on Governance, Quality, Internationalisation, Doctoral Education, and Student Access and Success. She has been involved in a wide range of international higher education projects on behalf of the American Council on Education, DAAD, the European Commission, the Higher Education Academy (UK), the French government, IEEP-UNESCO, and the World Bank. She sits on the board of several universities and quality agencies in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. She is currently a member of the high-level international jury for the French government which oversees major investment in the development of higher education in France.




As one of the academics who pioneered the European Standards of Quality Assurance, Dr. Andrée Sursock drives FORWARD COLLEGE's effort in Quality Assurance and heads its Quality Assurance Committee.

Dr. Gaël Brulé

Programme Coordinator

Dr. Gaël Brulé is an environmental engineer (INSA(France)/KTH (Sweden)/USC(USA)) and a doctor in sociology (Erasmus University of Rotterdam). He has worked as a consultant, has founded two companies and has been a postdoctoral researcher for four years at the universities of Neuchâtel and Geneva. His themes of interest include the determinants of happiness, sustainability, urbanism, culture, wealth, and humour.




Interested by the teaching methods to foster well-being, he joined FORWARD COLLEGE as a Programme Coordinator for the Leadership Programme.

Dr. Vera Herédia Colaço

Associate Professor | BBL Senior Leadership Fellow | Business Lead

Vera Herédia Colaço holds a PhD in management with a specialisation in marketing and consumer behaviour from Nova SBE and a M.S. in textile marketing from Thomas Jefferson/ Philadelphia University. She has taught both in graduate and undergraduate programmes, and has done research in the fields of ethical decision-making, sustainable consumption, and purpose-driven business and consumption.

Prior to joining the academia, she worked for the textile & apparel industry and has solid
international experience working with brands and start-ups such as Timberland, the Benetton Group and the Trade Commission of Portugal in NYC. She has strong experience in establishing university/industry relations with companies such as Aga Khan Foundation, Fundação Oceano Azul, McDonald’s, National Geographic and Starbucks. Among her motivations in life is to contribute to people’s development and well-
being.


Why did you join Forward?


"I’ve gained enough expertise in marketing, consumer behaviour and the interplay between sustainability and decision-making during my professional career and in academia to know that one of the biggest assets you can provide students with is to guide them to work with real-life projects using a learn-by-doing approach. Forward is creating a disruptive curriculum in higher education by applying structured approaches for learning, but also creative problem-solving techniques that stimulate forward thinking. It respects the importance of such majors in economics, social sciences, and data science but also prepares students to become global citizens with a positive impact. I am very excited to be part of the team at Forward!”

Nabila Alibhai

Associate Professor | BBL Senior Leadership Fellow | Social Impact Lead | Head of Personal Development

Nabila Alibhai qualified early in Public Health at Yale University, has been a Research Fellow in MIT’s Special Programme in Urban and Regional Studies and is currently on its advisory board. She has worked on pandemic preparedness (with the United Nations System Influenza Coordinator) and on development (Aga Khan Development Network in Central Asia). More recently, she has worked in the USA and Eastern Africa to activate individuals to be creative, productive and connected, and with organisations to maximise their success and create positive impact by mixing arts, storytelling and community development. Nabila has extensive experience in developing platforms to foster communication among people from different cultural backgrounds and different fields of expertise. She is a TED Speaker and was named a Top 30 Quartz Africa Innovator in 2018. She is also the founder of the public space and culture lab inCOMMONS.


Why did you join Forward?


"The paradigms for having a social impact and the definition of individual and collective success are changing, and have to change. I see this from the perspective of having worked in places as diverse as Geneva and Kabul, New York and Nairobi - with large institutions like the United Nations, IOM and the Aga Khan Development Network as well as with small civil society organisations and social enterprises. Forward College takes on this challenge by equipping its students with practical skills, cultural competency, digital literacy, empathetic leadership and business acumen in preparation for adaptive futures. I am proud to be part of a multi-disciplinary team as a Lecturer on Project-Based Learning, and as the Lead on Social Impact and the cultivation of emotional and social intelligences."