Armsby, Dr Pauline

Principal Lecturer Pedagogic Research in Higher Education

  • PhD Occupational Psychology
  • MPhil  Occupational Psychology
  • PGCert (Post Compulsory Education)
  • BA(hons) Psychology
  • CPsychol

Biography

Pauline began work at Westminster Exchange in January 2010 researching pedagogy in Higher Education. She also contributes to facilitating learning on the Exchange’s courses.  She previously worked for 13 years at Middlesex University's Institute for Work Based Learning, latterly as the Director of Masters/Doctorate in Professional Studies Programmes.  In this role she managed and developed the expansion of this generic professional doctorate programme for distance provision internationally and with collaborative partners such as Ashridge Management College, Metanoia Psychotherapy Institute and Forum for the Future charity for sustainable development. She is an experienced doctoral supervisor and examiner, including for doctorate by public works, and has lead a range of staff development programmes including facilitating learning/’supervising’ on professional doctorates.  Recent research projects managed focussed on developing and evaluating doctoral level provision.

In particular, her research interests are in work based learning and professional doctorates, and their epistemologies and methodologies.  Much used pedagogic devices in work based learning programmes such as the accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL), learning agreements and research and development projects are also of research interest, as is the use of elearning to facilitate work based learners, and coaching and mentoring in the process of facilitating high level learning.

Current projects

Currently, Pauline is working on a range of work related learning projects.  At Westminster she is contributing to the Interactive Work Based Learning Environments project (funded by JISC 2009-2011, value £100,000), and other cross-school interdisciplinary projects. She is also exploring the development of a professional doctorate at Westminster. She is presently on the UK Council for Graduate Education/Middlesex University, Second International Professional Doctorates Conference committee 2011, and is co-writing a book on work based knowledge.

Consultancy

Pauline has recently undertaken consultancy in relation to work based learning and professional doctorates through the Higher Education Academy and internationally in Sweden and Turkey.

Recent Publications

  • Armsby, P. and C. Costley (2009) Developing Work Based Learning at Doctoral Level. in Work Based Learning: Journeys to the Core of Higher Education. London: Middlesex University Press
  • Armsby, P. and A. Fillery-Travis.  (2009)  Developing the Coach: Using Work Based Learning Masters and Doctorate Programmes to Facilitate Coaches Learning.  UALL Work Based Learning Network Annual Conference:  The Impact of Work Based Learning for the Learner.  University of the West of England.  13-14 July.
  • Costley, C. and P. Armsby (2009)  The Doctorate in Professional Studies: A generic approach to a radically different agenda.   International Conference on Professional Doctorates.  Cavendish Conference Centre, London, 9-10 November. Download here.
  • Costley, C., and P. Armsby. (2008)  Critiquing work based learning in higher education – a review. In Garnett, J. and Young, D. (eds) Work Based Learning Futures II, Bolton: University Vocational Awards Council
  • Coyne, P., A. Basiel and P. Armsby (2008) Exploring a professional social network environment for learning and development. 7th European E-Learning Conference.  Cyprus. 6-7 Nov.
  • Costley, C. and P. Armsby (2007) Research influences on a professional doctorate, Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 12 (3) 343-355.
  • Costley C. and P. Armsby (2007) Methodologies for undergraduates doing practitioner investigations at work, Journal of Workplace Learning, 19 (3) pp 131-145.
  • Costley C. and P. Armsby (2007) Work Based Learning Assessed as a Field or a Mode of Study,   Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 32 (1) pp 21-33.
  • Gibbs P., C. Costley , P. Armsby and A. Trakakis (2007) Developing the Ethics of worker-researchers through phronesis, Teaching in Higher Education, 12 (3) pp 365-375. 
  • Armsby P., C. Costley and J.Garnett (2006) The legitimisation of knowledge: a work based learning perspective of APEL, International Journal of Lifelong Learning and Education, 25 (4) pp 369-383.