Dr Paula Nottingham

Biography

Based in London, I am a dual UK and US national and have thirty-five years of experience as an educator, facilitator, scholar, researcher, and consultant. 

I have recently become a convenor with the Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) for the Post-graduate Issues Network (PIN) and co-convene for the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL) Work & Learning Network. I host and manage the Work & Learning network website https://www.workandlearningnetwork.org

My art studio is based at Thameside Studios in Woolwich  London.

https://www.thames-sidestudios.co.uk/studios/directory

My qualifications over a number of years include a Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) (First Class Hons equivalent), Master of Fine Art (MFA) (Distinction equivalent), MSc Applied Professional Studies in Lifelong Learning (Merit), PhD, and Senior Fellowship HEA.

Teaching

I currently supervise MPhil/PhD candidates in Education and am the post-graduate research lead (HSCE Faculty) for the HSCE/S&T  professional doctorate framework at Middlesex University. Cross-sector, I work as a higher education consultant and examiner, specialising in practice-based higher education with an interest in the creative and cultural industries and lifelong professional education that focuses on transdisciplinary workplace roles within business organisations and communities of practice.

I am an external examiner for University of Norwich School of Art and University of Wales Trinity Saint David. In the past I have had this role for Birkbeck University of London, University of Ulster, Pearson, Leicester College (De Montfort University) and have been invited to expertise related validation panels internal to Middlesex University and at other higher education institutions.

Throughout my career I have taken great pride in the number of students, candidates, and peers that I have helped achieve their educational aims. I am involved now with post-graduate and doctoral level research training and CPD and co-deliver the PGR training for the HSCE/S&T DProf programme with our core teaching team.

https://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/mastersdoctor-of-professional-studies-mprofdprof/

In the past at Middlesex, I have led a number of programmes such as the MA in Higher Education, the BSc (Hons) Professional Practice in Business to Business Sales Degree Apprenticeship (with Consalia Ltd. partnership), and the BA Professional Practice in Arts. Before moving to Middlesex in 2009, I worked at Birkbeck College University of London, the Surrey Institute for Art and Design, London South Bank University, University of Southampton, La Sainte Union, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Louisiana State University as a GTA.

I now supervise candidates with topics that include working titles such as:

Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland: A study of the training provider’s role in the tripartite relationship with employers and learners

Developing post graduate social work qualifying programmes: A new direction

A Narrative Study of the Learning Experiences of First and Second-generation Romanian Children and Young People and their Sociocultural Integration as a Community within the London Area, United Kingdom

Illustration as Visual-Archives: Investigating The Illustration Development in Hong Kong By Using the Concept of Illustration as Visual-Archives

My successful examinations have included internal and external candidates.

External doctoral examinations:

Wu, Adrian (2024) Doctor of Education (EdD) School of Education College of Social Sciences, University of Glasgow

Richter, Uwe (2022) Understanding (professional) learning in online and distance work-based university degree courses: an exploratory study and Reflective Course Statement (Part of thesis submission), EdD, Institute of Education UCL.

Gosling, Joanne (2020) The Acquisition of Skills and Expertise for Higher Education – Work Based Learning, PhD, School of Education University of Greenwich.

Booth, Joanna (2019) Work-based learning & professional identity, EdD, Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University.

Scott, Deborah (2019) The impact of work based learning: a creative exploration of learners’ experience, EdD, PhD, University of Chester.

Internal MDX doctoral examinations:

Meehan, Anthony J. (2024) An exploration of parents’ perception of Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) in the development of parent voice and authentic, productive and lasting partnerships, DProf, Middlesex University.

Buckland, Keith (2022) Practice as the Site of Learning: A Case Study of Higher Education in an Aviation Degree, DProf, Middlesex University.

Leung, Wai On (2020) Designing a business model for SMEs global expansion: the case of WET in Hong Kong, DProf thesis, Middlesex University.

Simos, Joanna Patricia (2020) Developing a conceptual learning enhancement framework for study abroad programmes: the role of action research in the participation of students, DProf thesis, Middlesex University.

Kreikamp, Ralf (2018) The benefits of applying cultural intelligence concepts to customer satisfaction and team performance. DProf, Middlesex University.

Ker, Glenys R. (2017) Degrees by Independent Learning: a case study of practice at Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, New Zealand. DProf, Middlesex University.

Zhekov, Monica A. (2017) Designing an English-Romanian glossary of English Criminal Law for interpreters and legal professionals using electronic corpora. DProf, Middlesex University.

Avgousti, Nicoleta (2016) Contemporary Cypriot video art: an investigation of artistic practice and its educational implications for the visual arts curriculum. DProf, Middlesex University.

Hampton, Paul (2016) Influencing the undergraduate built environment curricula through stakeholder understandings of built environment employability skills, DProf thesis, Middlesex University.

Completions as Director of Studies (Supervisor)

Wilson, Dilys (2025) Holding the baby - the contribution of Early Years Teachers to leading practice with babies. DProf, Middlesex University.

Ryan, Angela (2024) The duality of employee perspectives and organisational requirements: a diagnostic framework for the international HR leader, DProf, Middlesex University.

Papantoniou, Margarita (2023) Cyber fraud: investigating substantive, procedural and evidentiary legal issues in Cyprus, DProf, Middlesex University.

El Mahdy, Najat (2022) Exploring Human Resource Management Practise through the Qatar HR Forum; framing the influence of 'Tharaba' culture and the development of Qatar-Centric competencies for HR Professionals practising in Qatar, DProf, Middlesex University.

Sienko Kathy (2021) Exploring the Use of Coaching for the Development of Saudi Arabian Healthcare Managers Through the Perspectives of Coaches, Coachees and Coaching Sponsors, DProf, Middlesex University.

Eracleous Panayiotis (2022) Introducing a new framework for improving competitive programming education for the Cyprus Olympiad in Informatics, DProf, Middlesex University.

Konstantinos Pitychoutis (2020) Designing a Teacher Orientation Course for English as a Foreign Language Faculty at Saudi Arabian Universities: the case of a private university in Riyadh, Doctor of Professional Studies in Applied Linguistics, DProf, Middlesex University.

MProf completions  

Pericleous Kesta, Eleni (2020) How does identity influence creative photography, MProf, Middlesex University.

Mogensen, Tino (2020) A critical reflection of the collaborative grey space within a Danish municipal project setting, MProf, Middlesex University.