School of Education, Deputy Dean (Research and Sustainability)

Prof. Dr. Subhan Zein is a Professor, Deputy Dean of Research and Sustainability, and Head of the Centre for Higher Education Research at Sunway University. With a PhD from Australian National University, he brings over 14 years of teaching experience from leading Australian institutions, including the University of Melbourne, University of Queensland, and University of Canberra. His student-centred pedagogy has consistently earned high satisfaction rates and engaged diverse learners, including international students and refugees from more than 90 countries.

An internationally recognised scholar, Prof. Zein is Editor-in-Chief of the Routledge AsiaTEFL Book Series and a two-time recipient of Australia’s Best Researcher Award in English Language and Literature. He has authored or co-authored 12 books and published 52 book chapters and journal articles in top-tier SSCI Q1 journals such as Language Teaching, Professional Development in Education, and World Englishes. As a theorist, he developed the concept of “superglossia” and refined a theory called "discourse planning", contributing significantly to sociolinguistics and language policy. His research has influenced educational reforms, particularly in primary English education in Indonesia, and his work is used as core reading material in universities worldwide.

Prof. Zein has led numerous international research projects funded by organisations like the British Council, managing grants exceeding AUD 1.1 million. He has delivered 52 keynote and plenary presentations globally and edited 6 major academic volumes, including the Routledge International Handbook of English Language Education in Indonesia. An experienced supervisor, he mentors master’s and doctoral candidates in Education and Applied Linguistics, with expertise in TESOL, language policy, early language learning, and sociocultural studies related to Indonesia. He continues to lead collaborative academic initiatives across 6 continents, solidifying his role as a global thought leader in language and education.