Dr Vahid Nick Pay is a full-time Departmental Lecturer in International Politics and Research Methods and serves as Director of Graduate Studies for Postgraduate Taught Programmes, with operational responsibility for the department’s taught postgraduate portfolio. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an official academic advisor to the UK government’s Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
A multidisciplinary scholar, his expertise spans Political Philosophy, Diplomacy, Security Studies, Linguistics, Computer Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence, reflecting postgraduate study across Linguistics, Computer Engineering, AI, and Politics and International Relations. He has served as Chair of Exam Boards, Academic Director, and Director of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies, and has sat on numerous academic management boards.
Alongside his academic career, Dr Nick Pay brings substantial experience from the governmental and private sectors, including service at the rank of Captain in two national armies and senior leadership roles with organisations such as the BBC and the UK and French national healthcare services. He designs and delivers executive and public short courses, including Oxford’s first course in AI Governance, and has recently designed a comprehensive Master’s programme in AI Governance.
