Dr. Mary Hatakka has over 25 years of experience in teaching and researching academic literacy skills and problem-based learning, as well as English for academic and specific purposes, writing in the disciplines and writing across the curriculum. She has taught these subjects in Finland, Italy, Egypt and in the United Arab Emirates. Currently she is working as an Assistant Professor of English at the English-medium Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates teaching Freshman composition. For 12 years prior to that, Dr Hatakka taught academic literacy skills and English for academic purposes through problem-based and project-based learning to Arab engineering students at the Petroleum Institute, which has now merged with Khalifa University.

In addition to her teaching experience, Dr Hatakka has published textbooks in the field of technical English in Finland and in Italy, as well as research papers mainly on academic literacy skills and project-based learning. She has also presented her papers at several international conferences.

Dr Hatakka’s research interests include academic literacy skills, student motivation and retention and engineering habits of mind.