Senior Lecturer in HRM and Leadership
I have a First Class degree in Sociology with Political Science, an MSc in Research Methods (Distinction), an MA in Human Resource Development (Distinction) and a doctorate where the title of my thesis was 'Songs of Praxis: Reflexive Space for Authentic Teacher Voice Identification, Development and Transformation'.
During my time at the University, I have been a programme leader for a range of courses and I am currently Programme Leader for MSc Management (online). I have represented the Faculty on a range of projects including the 2015-16 Undergraduate Business and Management Periodic Review, where I was the Project Manager. My responsibilities in this project included the redesign of the curriculum, redesigning the teaching and learning approaches with the Principal Lecturer for Learning and Teaching and co-ordinating all of the required documentation from a range of internal and external stakeholders. I actively research the use of digital reflection, storytelling and reflexivity. I have developed a range of creative teaching practices using digital platforms, audio and video and this translates into my assessment practices where students are encouraged to design educational toolkits (e.g. vlogs, websites, podcasts and digital storyboards).
I have been recognised for my teaching and research as I work in collaboration with Dr Patricia Bryans. In 2016, we were awarded the 'Innovation in Teaching of Research Methodology Excellence Award' at the 15th European Conference on Research Methods in Business for a Case History 'Human Resource Reflective Project: Developing Researching Professionals'. In 2017, we were awarded The 'Global HRD Research Excellence Award' from the International Federation of Training and Development Organisations (IFTDO) for our case history 'Human Resource Reflective Project: Developing Researching Professionals'.
I am a Member of the Learning and Teaching Academy as a Senior Fellow of the HEA and as a VC Teaching Fellow.
Teaching and supervision
My teaching is based in HRM and Leadership in Sunderland Business School and at present my teaching duties include:
Module leader and teaching:
- Developing the Researching HR Professional (30 credits)
- Exploring Equality and Diversity (20 credits)
- Developing the Reflexive Practitioner (20 credits)
PhD and DProf supervision:
Director of Studies for:
- Kym Drady 'Are creative techniques transferable from the classroom to the workplace: identifying potential transformational impact and effect? Is creativity between the lines? How do you colour? PhD.
- Abbas Alkidir 'The Evolving Professionalisation of HR'.
- Rebecca Dodds 'research based on maternity leave and barriers for women in the academy'.
- Gavin Mason 'Trust in organisations'.
Research interests for potential research students
Equality in the workplace: especially pregnancy and maternity discrimination and lived experience; invisible disabilities including lived experience of employees with mental health conditions; dress code and sexualization of women in the workplace; future women leaders.
Teaching of research methods: including how we teach research methods to engage learners in developing a researcher identity.
I am interested in supervising students in these areas from a qualitative research design perspective.
Research
- ART of Reflexivity: the use of personal cultural texts as visualisations of identities (personal and professional) this includes the use of digital storytelling, reflection and reflexivity.
- Future women leaders: perceptions of the role of aspiring women leaders and the barriers they face in the workplace (women's space).
- Lived experience of women who have experienced maternity and or pregnancy discrimination.
- Lived experience of those who have mental health conditions and the enablers and inhibitors in the workplace.
Publications
Article
Armstrong, Paul-Alan and Foster, Monika (2021) Letters of praxis: A metaphorical journey through the challenges for business and management education during turbulent times. Business Educator: Working Paper Series of the Centre for Management Learning and Business Education, 1. pp. 90-107.
Barkas, Linda Anne and Armstrong, Paul-Alan (2021) The price of knowledge and the wisdom of innocence: A difficult journey through the employability discourse in higher education. Industry and Higher Education. 095042222110162. ISSN 2043-6858
Barkas, Linda Anne, Armstrong, Paul-Alan and Bishop, Garry (2020) Is inclusion still an illusion in higher education? exploring the curriculum through the student voice. International Journal of Inclusive Education. pp. 1-16. ISSN 1464-5173
Armstrong, Paul-Alan (2018) Scholar Practitioner, Reflexive Professionals, the ART of Autobiographical Professional Development. International Journal of Online Graduate Education, 1 (1). pp. 1-14.
Barkas, Linda Anne, Armstrong, Paul-Alan and Bishop, Garrry (2017) What happens when they grow up. Inclusive Education Summit - Australia. (Unpublished)
Book Section
Janfeshar Nobari, Juila and Armstrong, Paul-Alan (2020) Prisoners of Inclusivity: Perspective on Spirituality, Humanism and Place. In: Gender Equality in Changing Times Multidisciplinary Reflections on Struggles and Progress. Palgrave. ISBN 9783030265700
Bryans, Trish, Fraser, Helen and Armstrong, Paul-Alan (2017) Workplace - Women's Place? In: Re-reading Spare Rib. Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 99-118. ISBN 978-3-319-49309-1
Armstrong, Paul-Alan and Bryans, Trish (2016) Human Resource Reflective Project: Developing Researching Professionals. In: ECRM 2016 Innovation in the Teaching of Research Methodology Excellence Awards. Academic Conferences and Publishing International (ACPIL), London. ISBN 9781910810972
Conference or Workshop Item
Drady, Kym and Armstrong, Paul-Alan (2019) ‘Creativity for Life not just for Christmas’; promoting the 3T’s of Creativity as a vehicle for Organisational Sustainability and Development. In: 8th Nordic Conference on Adult Education and Learning, 13-15 May 2019, Aarhus University, Copenhagen, Denmark. (Unpublished)
Armstrong, Paul-Alan (2018) ‘Scholar Practitioner, reflexive professionals, the art of autobiographical professional development’. In: 19th International Conference on Human Resource Development Research and Practice across Europe, 5-8 Jun 2018, Newcastle Business School (Northumbria University). (Unpublished)
Armstrong, Paul-Alan (2018) ‘Contextualising and Framing Reflexivity for Professional Doctorate Education; Pedagogies of Praxis for a Changing Academic Landscape’. In: 6th International Conference on Professional Doctorates, 'Professional Doctorates in a Changing Landscape'., 22-23 Mar 2018, Friends House, London. (Unpublished)
Armstrong, Paul-Alan (2018) ‘Reflexive Digital Bricolage: The ART of Digital Reflection’. In: 6th International Conference on Professional Doctorates, 'Professional Doctorates in a Changing Landscape'., 22-23 Mar 2018, Friends House, London. (Unpublished)
Hayes, Catherine, Fulton, John and Armstrong, Paul-Alan (2017) ‘Contextualising and Framing Reflexivity for Professional Doctorate Education; Pedagogies of Praxis for a Changing Academic Landscape’. In: 6th International Conference on Professional Doctorates, 'Professional Doctorates in a Changing Landscape'., 22-23 Mar 2018, Friends House, London. (Submitted)
Hayes, Catherine, Fulton, John and Armstrong, Paul-Alan (2016) ‘Facilitating the Articulation of Personal and Professional Development with Metaphors: Harnessing Culture and Celebrating Difference in Postgraduate International Student Support’. In: UKAT 2017 Annual Conference, 5 - 7 Apr 2017, Leeds Trinity University, Leeds. (Submitted)
Hayes, Catherine, Fulton, John and Armstrong, Paul-Alan (2016) 'Celebrating Difference in Postgraduate International Student Support'. In: NACADA International Conference The Future of Academic Advising: 'Connecting and Consolidating Students' Experiences and Education', 10-13 Jul 2017, Sheffield University, UK. (Unpublished)
Thesis
Armstrong, Paul-Alan Songs of Praxis: Reflexive Space for Authentic Teacher Voice Identification, development and transformation. Doctoral thesis, University of Sunderland.
Other
Foster, Monika, Armstrong, Paul-Alan, Bhate, Seema and Janfeshar Nobari, Juila (2022) Business Educator Issue Two September 2022: Research and Scholarship: Building Sustainable Futures. University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK.
Foster, Monika, Armstrong, Paul-Alan and Janfeshar Nobari, Juila (2021) Business Educator Issue 1: Management Learning and Business Education during Turbulent Times. University of Sunderland, Sunderland, UK.
- Digital reflection and reflexivity
- Professional development and CPD
- Research methods teaching
- Equality and Diversity
- Chartered Member of CIPD (Chartered MCIPD)
- Member of Professional Doctorate Programme Studies Board