DrMaria Ishkova

Dr Maria Ishkova is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) whose educational leadership and service are best characterised as student-centric, partnership-led and impact-oriented, strengthening curriculum quality and responsible innovation while advancing student experience, responsible management education (PRME/SDGs), and sustainable engagement with industry and the discipline.

Maria is an accredited University-wide Peer Reviewer of Teaching and contributes to cross-University capability building by co-facilitating Sydney-wide student partnership events that develop shared definitions, practical capability, and networks across faculties and portfolios. She serves on the Students as Partners Advisory Board (established 2024) guiding the University of Sydney’s student partnership agenda. As part of this work, Maria co-authored the University of Sydney Student Partnership Charter (2024), contributing to an institutional framework that enables consistent partnership practice beyond individual units or disciplines.

Within the Business School, she contributes to curriculum governance and renewal, integrating student voice at scale and embedding SDG-aligned principles into program design. She also supports the School’s responsible AI agenda as a USBS Artificial Intelligence Working Group (AIWG) member, advancing ethical and thoughtful adoption of AI across education, research, and operations.

Maria’s impact on student experience is recognised through the Academic Enhancement of Student Life Award (2022), the Business School Staff Leadership Award: Student Experience (PRME-related) (2024), and subsequent nominations (2025).