Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy (Education: TESOL), Monash University
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, TAFE Gippsland
• Master of Philosophy (English Language), M K University
• Master of Arts (English Language), Bharathidasan University
• Bachelor of Science (Physics), Bharathidasan University

Areas of interest

• Teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL/ELICOS/ TEFL/CALD/CALL/EAP)
• English language acquisition
• Bilingual/multilingual education
• Academic writing
• Foundation mathematics and science
• Transition and first year in higher education
• Literacy and numeracy in transition into higher education
• Child rights in education
• Literacy and numeracy in primary and secondary education

Areas of expertise

Rachel has expertise in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) and English language acquisition, with a particular focus on multilingual, bilingual, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) learners. Her research and teaching interests extend across academic writing, English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and computer-assisted language learning (CALL). She also has experience in foundation mathematics and science, literacy and numeracy development across secondary, and transition-to-university contexts, and the challenges faced by first-year learners entering higher education. Additionally, she has a strong interest in child rights in education and the ways educational systems can better support equitable learning outcomes for diverse student populations.

Awards

• 2011: Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) for Research
• 2010: Travel Grant for Research
• 1994: University rank holder in MA

Current

• PhD student, Federation University, 'Preparing Indian Students for Academic and Cultural Success in Australian Higher Education', co- supervisor. 
• PhD student, Federation University, 'The impacts of bilingual pedagogy on primary school students: Teacher’s perspectives from the classrooms of Kerala, India', co- supervisor. 
• PhD student, Federation University, 'The impact of explicitly teaching the ‘language of science’ on high school students' learning outcomes', co- supervisor.
• PhD student, Federation University, 'Exploring Effective Immigrant Community Partnerships for Parents of Children with Autism', principal supervisor. 
• PhD student, Federation University, 'Exploring How International TESOL Graduates Utilise Employability Capital to Negotiate Their Professional Identity in Australia', principal supervisor.
• PhD student, Federation University, 'Empowering Voices: Experiences of Multicultural and Multilingual Female Teachers from Diverse Backgrounds in Australian Schools', supervisor. 
• PhD student, Federation University, 'How Malaysian-Born Teachers in Australia Draw on Their Educational Roots to Shape Teaching Practice', supervisor. 

Past

• PhD student, Federation University, 'Preparing Future Teachers to Teach Sexuality Education in Australia'. co- supervisor. 

• TESOL methodology, language teaching and technology
• Understanding pedagogy in global and local contexts
• Professional practice in tertiary teaching
• Academic reading and writing in educational research
• Academic writing
• Minor thesis supervision
• Professional inquiry project supervision
• PhD supervision 

Conference proceedings

• Lahiri-Roy, R., Hart, K., & Daniel, R. (2025). “Academic sisterhoods”: connecting to collaboratively converse on concomitantly being ‘good workers’ and ‘academic mothers’ in Australian Universities. AARE Conference, University of Newcastle, Australia. https://www.aare.edu.au/ 
• Larsen, A., Robinson, A., Coleman, R., James, T., Lambrinidis, G., Jones, A., & Daniel, R. (2024). Supports and Shackles: An autoethnographic study on increasing student self-efficacy The NAEEA 7th International Conference on Enabling Education (ICEE) Darwin https://enablingeducators.org/conferences/
• Green, C., Pantelich, M., Barrow, M., Weerasinghe, D., & Daniel, R. (2023). Receptive Vocabulary Size Estimates for General and Academic Vocabulary at a Multi-campus Australian University. ALAA-Conference Wollongong, Au. https://alaa.net.au/Conference/ALAA-Conference 

Prior publications

• Daniel, R. K. & Ponniah, S. D. (2018). Internationalisation of Indian Higher Education. University News, 56 (16) 06-12. https://aiu.ac.in/publication.php 
• Ponniah, S. D. & Daniel, R. (2017). Indian Higher Education and Global Challenges. University News, 55 (50) 26-35. https://aiu.ac.in/publication.php 
• Daniel, R. K. & Ponniah, S. D. (2017). Erosion of Ethics and Values among Youth. University News, 55 (40) 08-12. https://aiu.ac.in/publication.php 
• Daniel, R. K. (2017). Future of English Language in India. Wide Spectrum, 6 (1) 62-77 https://aiu.ac.in/publication.php 
• Ponniah, S. D. & Daniel, R. (2015). Holistic Education for Excellence in Higher Education. University News, 53 (20) 190-194. https://aiu.ac.in/publication.php  
• Ponniah, S. D. & Daniel, R. (2012).Values Based Integrated Education. University News, 50 (51) 01-05. https://aiu.ac.in/publication.php 
• Ponniah, S. D. & Daniel, R. (2012). Ethics and Morals in Integrated Education. University News, 50 (50) 14-19.
• Ponniah, S. D. & Daniel, R. (2012). Integrated Education. Delhi: Kalpaz Publication
• Daniel, R. K. & Ponniah, S. D. (2010). Issues on Globalisation and Indian Higher Education. University News, 48 (13) 13-18.
• Daniel, R. & Ponniah, S. D. (2008). An Integrated Approach to Higher Education in India. Theological Book Trust, 10 (1) 14.