Dr Shirley Ann Gauci is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and supervising dissertations.

She holds a B.Ed. (Hons) from the University of Malta, an MSc from the University of Leicester, and a PhD in ECEC from the University of Sheffield. Her doctoral research focused on pedagogy of thinking, curriculum change, and school reculturing.

With a background in school leadership, Shirley has led curriculum initiatives and Erasmus+ projects on literacy, well-being, and digital literacy. Her research interests include ECEC curriculum change, inclusive leadership, intergenerational learning, and teacher education. She leads SELBI; a nationally funded project, linking AI, blue skills, and ECEC, and regularly presents at international conferences. She also serves as a peer reviewer for academic journals and books.