About the Faculty Member

Santosh Mahapatra is an Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus. His research interests are digital educational technology, assessment, teacher professional development, and language policy.

Educational Qualifications

• PhD in English, with Language Assessment Literacy as the area of specialization, from the Department of English at the University of Hyderabad (2015)
• M.Phil. in English Language Education, with English for Science and Technology as the area of specialization, at EFLU, Hyderabad (2010)  

Research Interests

The overarching aim of my research is to find feasible solutions to problems related to pedagogy, which includes areas such as digital technology use, teacher professional development, and educational language policies. I am comfortable with qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies.  

• Digital Learning Technology

I am exploring how technology can be leveraged to facilitate language learning and support the professional development of teachers. Specifically, I focus on tools driven by generative AI and their ethical applications in academic settings. I am also interested in critical digital literacy.

• Assessment

I have been working on educational assessment since my PhD. While I am specifically interested in formative assessment and the use of digital technology in this context, I have been involved in a project related to the TOEFL. One of my PhD students, who received her PhD in 2023, worked on e-portfolio assessment in the classroom.  

• Teacher Development

Currently, I'm investigating ESL/EFL teacher development on online platforms. My focus is on how professional development programs can enhance their ability to carry out formative assessments, utilize technology, and implement pedagogical innovations. In particular, I'm interested in tracing the impact of non-intrusive interventions on their practices.

• Language Policy

Studying educational language policies from an evidence-based perspective and working towards finding solutions to policy-related problems are close to my heart. My research focuses on the intricate relationship between history, politics, and pedagogy in the development of educational language policy. I have been working on colonial language policies, the politics of multilingualism, and the policy-practice gap in Indian contexts.

Journal Editorial Board

• Teaching in Higher Education (Q1 on SCOPUS, Taylor & Francis)

Peer Reviewing for Journals

• International Journal of Inclusive Education (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Language Assessment Quarterly (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Teaching in Higher Education (SCOPUS/WOS)
• English for Specific Purposes (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Educational Research and Evaluation (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Teaching Education (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Linguistics and Education (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Educational Psychology (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Journal of Second Language Writing (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Frontiers in Education (SCOPUS/WOS)
• System (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Foresight (SCOPUS/WOS)
• RELC Journal (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Asia-Pacific Education Researcher (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Research in Learning Technology (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Behaviour & Information Technology (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Cogent Education (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Íkala (SCOPUS)
• Linguistics and Education (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Interactive Learning Environments (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Teaching Education (SCOPUS/WOS)
• Language Assessment Quarterly (SCOPUS/WOS)
• FORTELL  (a guest editor for an issue, UGC-CARE)

Book Proposal Reviewing

• Taylor & Francis 
• Springer

Member of the Boards of Studies

• Department of Training and Development, EFL University, Hyderabad
• VNR VJIET, Hyderabad
• Andhra Loyola Institute of Engineering & Technology, Vijayawada
• MVSREC, Hyderabad 
• English Department at JBIET, Hyderabad

Institutional Responsibilities

• Warden, Valmiki Bhavan
• In-charge, Recreational Activity Forum
• Nucleus Member, Faculty Affairs Division
• Member of the Vendor Management Committee 
• Member of the House Allotment Committee
• Lead for the Course Design and Pedagogy Sub-committee for Curriculum Revision (2025) 
• Member of the Departmental Research Committee
• In-charge of the Students' Mess Council (Past)
• Member of the Institute-wide Committee for Academic Curriculum Review (2023-24)
• SPOC for PS Division (past)
• Convener, Departmental Research Committee (two terms, past)
• Convener, Departmental Committee for Academics (one term, past)
• Member, Teaching Learning Centre (three terms, past) 
• Editorial Team Member for BITSCAN (six years, past)

Faculty-in-Charge of Student Clubs

• BITSMUN
• Grandh
• Movie Club
• Ethos
• Toastmasters Club
• ELAS