Dr Lizann Bonnar

Principal Teaching Fellow

Psychology

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Personal statement

I joined Psychology at Strathclyde in September 2004, following a MA (Hons) and PhD in Psychology at the University of Glasgow. My PhD was in cognitive psychology, specifically visual attention and recognition.  Although my research background is in experimental design and quantitative research methods, I have learned to use qualitative methods with students in a range of projects. Current research projects with students are in the area of student mental health and sense of belonging amongst students who are traditionally under-represented in higher education. I am also engaged in collaborative projects with colleagues and students on applying an intersectional approach to equality, diversity and inclusion across the student journey.

In addition to my role in the Department of Psychological Sciences and Health, I am Vice Dean (Academic) in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (since 2019). In this role, I lead on the enhancement and quality assurance of the Faculty's UG and PGT education portfolio (over 100 degree programmes with around 8000 students in 15 discipline areas that are organised into 7 departments/centres).  I am passionate about transforming teaching, learning and assessment so that students and graduates develop the personal attributes, knowledge, understanding and skills needed to address the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century. A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion across all stages of the student journey underpins this work. I also lead the University's Assessment and Feedback Working Group (since 2013) and the Generative-AI - Learning, Teaching and Assessment working group (since 2023). In these roles I have led the development of university policies/procedures, guidance, and other resources.

Externally, I am a member of the Undergraduate Education Committee (UEC) of the British Psychological Society (since 2015) and have led a working group of this committee on advancing equality, diversity and inclusion in the discipline through a review of the Standards for Accreditation of UG and Conversion level degrees. I have also been a member of the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement Advisory Panel for Psychology.

 

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Teaching

At undergraduate level, I am class leader for the final year C8437 Psychology Work Placement class, and supervise several honours and MSc dissertation projects each year. Prior to taking up the role as Vice Dean Academic (now .7FTE), I was class leader for C8321 Research Methods and Data Analysis, and also taught on Introduction to Research Design and Analysis (C8203), and research methods classes on three MSc programmes: MSc in Research Methods in Psychology, MSc Clinical Health Psychology, and the online MSc Psychology with a specialistion in *Business (conversion). 

I led on the development of a university-wide module called 'Multi-disciplinary Perspectives of Sustainable Development', and worked with colleagues across the University to deliver this for the first time in January 2020. The module has been developed in line with UNESCO's Education for Sustainable Development Learning Objectives and is delivered (led by Professor Debra Willison) by staff from all four faculties and attended by students from different degree levels and disciplines across the University. 

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Professional Activities

Promoting International Students’ Employment
Speaker
11/4/2025
Explorance Impact Tour Shaping the Future of Higher Education: Student Voice and AI. Glasgow, 11 January 2024
Participant
11/1/2024
Advance HE Roundtable on AI - Universities of the Future.
Speaker
14/12/2023
Invited Member of Keynote Symposium on ‘Decolonising the Curriculum’, Annual Conference of the Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology (D-ARTP) of the British Psychological Society
Invited speaker
24/11/2022
Student placements: how our committed students can support and develop your organisation
Speaker
11/5/2022
Keeping 1.5 Alive. Mobilising student action through placements in city and region for climate emergency and climate justice
Contributor
6/5/2022

More professional activities

Projects

PhD studentship for Claire Crichton-Allen - Pedagogies and assessment of C21 competencies for sustainable futures
Strachan, Scott (Principal Investigator) Bonnar, Lizann (Principal Investigator)
Secured fully funded PhD from Centre for Sustainable Development– “Pedagogies and assessment of C21 competencies for sustainable futures” - co-produced proposal and co-supervising student with Lizann Bonnar from School of Psychology
01-Jan-2022 - 30-Jan-2025
Students as Partners in Learning Enhancement
Bonnar, Lizann (Academic) Willison, Debra (Academic) McLaren, Andrew (Academic) Thomson, Avril (Academic) Gould, Helyn (Academic) Thomson, Linda (Academic)
HEA funded workshop (£750) on working in partnership with students on a range of learning enhancement projects.
05-Jan-2014 - 05-Jan-2014

More projects

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Contact

Dr Lizann Bonnar
Principal Teaching Fellow
Psychology

Email: lizann.bonnar@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 2595/8207