Forough Ramezankhah

Biography

Forough read Law with Educational Studies at Keele University and graduated with First Class Honours in 2005.

In 2006 Forough was awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC) in General Commercial Pathway from the College of Law, Birmingham. She undertook electives in Commercial Law, Employment Law and Welfare & Immigration Law and upon graduation with LPC began working at a private law firm specialising in Immigration and Nationality Law.

In 2007 Forough was awarded a scholarship to study Master of Research in Social Science Research Methods in Law at Keele University. Her dissertation was entitled, ‘Immigration Law and Policy: The Dichotomy between Theory and Practice.’

Forough gained a further scholarship to do a research degree at Keele University. In 2013 she was awarded with a PhD in Law.

Research and scholarship

The potential of Forough’s research to have impact is reflected in the invitation she received in August 2015 to give a live interview about the refugee crisis on the Breakfast Show at BBC Radio Stoke.  She was invited as a socio-legal scholar with expertise in immigration and asylum law, who had carried out empirical research.  

Through her participation in the Keele CLOCK initiative, in 2015 Forough also made a significant contribution as an expert in immigration and asylum law, when she recognised that a CLOCK client was potentially a victim of trafficking. She successfully contacted the First Responder resulting in the National Referral Mechanism being initiated and ultimately the successful recognition of a Syrian asylum seeker family as victims of trafficking.

The potential of Forough’s research in this context is also reflected in the fact that in February 2016 she represented CLOCK at an international event in Brussels: ‘Border Stories: From there to here - How innovative research into personal experiences can help the EU address Intra EU mobility and Third Country Migration’.  Forough was invited to represent CLOCK at this policy conference because of her expertise in narrative and psychosocial studies as applied to asylum-seekers.

A Selection of Research Presentation and Scholarship Output 

Ramezankhah, F. (2015) ‘A paucity of knowledge: causes and consequences’. Paper presented at the Human Rights in Times of ‘Crisis’ event, Human Rights in Collaboration Series, Keele University.

Acted as expert adviser for Chapter 20 on Asylum in Brammer, A. (2015). Social Work Law (4th ed.). Harlow: Pearson Education.

Ramezankhah, F. (2011) ‘Asylum Claims versus Asylum Stories: how testimonies are presented?’ Paper presented at Society of Legal Scholars Annual Conference, Downing College, University of Cambridge.

Teaching

Forough has taught at Keele since October 2013 on modules:

UNDERGRADUATE

• Legal Skills
• Legal Systems
• The law of Torts 1 & 2
• Business Law
• Contract Law 1 & 2
• Company Law
• Law and New Technologies
• International Human Rights

POSTGRADUATE

• LLM International Law
• LLM International Law (and Human Rights)
• LLM Law and Society
• MA Human Rights, Globalisation and Justice
• MA Safeguarding Adults: Law Policy Practice
• MA Child Care law and Practice

Forough has experience of teaching to postgraduate research students (MRes Sociological Theories) by invitation from the Schools of Sociology and Criminology at Keele.

Further information

Forough’s journey into higher education is an unconventional one. In 2001 as a mother of two young daughters, she enrolled on ‘Access Course’ designed for mature students wishing to enter higher education. Whilst studying for a degree in law she volunteered at the local Citizens Advice Bureau for three years.  In 2003 she received the ‘Certificate of Advice Work Knowledge and Practice’ provided by the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux.

Forough is particularly dedicated to work with asylum seekers and refugees on voluntary basis. Commitment to support this vulnerable group has been at the heart of her approach to academic study and voluntary work.

A selection of Forough’s voluntary work includes:

December 2008 – December 2011

Volunteered with the Manchester Immigration Detainee Support Team (MIDST), in association with the Manchester Airport Chaplaincy.

September 2008 – September 2011

Responsible for establishing an Iranian (unincorporated) Association, acted as the Chair of the Iranian Community of North Staffordshire (ICONS). Solely responsible for securing an award in the excess of £26,500.00 following a successful grant application to ‘Robbie Williams Give it Sum’ managed by Comic Relief.

July 2008 - November 2009 

Member of the Destitution Sub-Group at Stoke-on-Trent Citizens Advice Bureau. The Sub-Group was established to tackle destitution among refugees, asylum seekers and those eligible for support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.