People, Performance and Culture

Emma Pullen 

Senior Lecturer in Accountancy and Finance/Programme Leader 

Department of Accountancy, Finance and Economics 

What does a typical day look like for you? 

During term time, I spend a fair bit of time teaching and but that is slightly out of choice because I definitely prefer that. That’s why I was recruited really, and that’s my interest. I’m Director of Teaching and Learning, so I usually go to at least one if not two catch ups about what’s going on in the department and the Business School, and the university about teaching and learning initiatives. I spend a fair bit of time promoting those. I also spend quite a lot of time catching up with my students. I have quite an open-door policy, and I like to catch up with students if I can, either in my role as personal tutor or program lead. I’m trying to get a little bit more involved in other things alongside my teaching, so this week, I caught up with a group who are looking at doing a teaching-focused research project. I’ve also done some training, so it’s very varied. Usually in my week, I’ll do something that I probably didn’t do the week before.  

What are you responsible for in your role? 

I am module leader for an undergraduate and postgraduate module. I’m responsible for teaching assessments and day-to-day running of those modules. I’m also a programme leader, so responsible for a small programme of mainly international students. I have also taken on the Teaching and Learning Director role. As part of my responsibilities, I do a lot of sharing best practice sessions with colleagues in the department and get involved in student engagement activities like our school action days. 

What is the best part of your job? 

The best part for me is probably the teaching, and the department is nicely structured. I always found when I first joined it was really friendly. I’m an accountant by trade, so I’ve come in from a professional background and that was a very competitive industry; even the teaching I did before in a professional college was very metric driven, you were ranked all the time. I really like being able to work with others, so I bounce ideas off other members of staff that I teach with and it’s very collaborative. You are given time to improve your teaching and to innovate. You can tell everyone really cares about the students. You get a lot of satisfaction from students learning something new, or them telling you about a job they’ve managed to get. 

What do you love about living in Lincolnshire? 

My dad was in the Air Force, so we moved to Lincoln when I was about 14, and I did until the end of secondary school. Then I went off to university in Durham and I lived in London for 8-9 years. I then came back to Lincoln to be in the city and closer to family. For me, the family connection is a big thing, but I would say, compared to my life in London, it’s a very accessible city. You can walk everywhere. It’s got the right mix of countryside, but it’s got the services and things that you need if you need them. It’s very beautiful. Compared to when I left 10 plus years ago, the university has made it a much better place. It has a nice mix of people around and the shops and things are great. It’s a slightly slower pace of life and better quality of living, but still has hustle and bustle and enough going on. The University brings a lot of interesting people to the area.  

What would you say to somebody considering applying for a job at the university? 

I would say to do it, we are a very friendly bunch. If you are unsure or uncertain, just contact someone in the department and ask them for a bit more information. This is what happened to me when I was applying. I hadn’t worked in academia before, and the head of department put me straight in touch with another colleague who’d followed a very similar path. That was really nice for me. I was able to have a quick chat with him, which really helped. I thought I was going to be quite different because of my background, but actually the department is full of very different people. If you looked around the group, we’re all really different. Without knowing how we’re all connected, I think you’d struggle to put us together (in a nice way!). Everyone has their own talents and interests, and it fits nicely together. In our department, for example, there are some of us that started in practice and then transferred over reasonably early in their careers, there’s some that followed the full PhD research route. There are others that were in practice for a long time and then came much later in their careers. We’ve also got so many different nationalities, which is really nice to see. You don’t have to fit a certain mould to be part of the team. 

Agnieszka Rydzik

Associate Professor in Tourism and Work

Department of Marketing, Languages and Tourism 

What does a typical day look like for you?

My days really vary because of my different roles. I’m a researcher, I’m an educator and I also have several leadership roles. I normally start my day with a 20-minute yoga and a strong coffee, which helps me stay focused and positive throughout the day. My schedule is diverse and varies greatly from day to day. This morning, for example, I was doing a mock Viva for one of my PhD students. It’s really great to see her get to that moment and complete her PhD. Yesterday, I presented my research project on student-workers at a panel hosted by the British Academy Midlands hub. Along with working on multiple research projects, I regularly publish and apply for grants, lead a research group, and teach and supervise students. It’s just great to have the opportunity to play different roles and engage in a variety of tasks.

What have you enjoyed most while working at the university?

One of the most meaningful aspects of my role is helping to create an environment where we can discuss research, exchange ideas, and foster collegiality. We’re quite a diverse department, with colleagues from different backgrounds but also different disciplines. Some are early career academics, others are mid-career and some are very experienced. We are trying to create moments of connectivity, where diverse colleagues can feel at home and grow professionally, and together we can successfully support our students and each other.

What do you love about living in Lincoln?

I’ve been living in Lincoln for about 10 years now. Moving from Bristol to Lincoln for my first academic job was a significant change, given the size difference between the two cities. But I absolutely love it here. I walk to work; it’s only about 20 minutes. I also love walking around the city at night. That’s my favourite after-dinner activity. When you go uphill to see the cathedral or downhill along the river, it’s very beautiful. Being close to nature and outdoor activities, like cycling, is also a plus. I have an allotment and I’m a member of the Lincoln Film Society, which I strongly recommend. Lincoln and its people have really grown on me over the 10 years.

Kirsty Bundy

Senior Lecturer in PE and Sport,

And Student Engagement Lead 

What does a typical day look like?

A typical day can vary dependant on my timetable. On a teaching day, I will leave home at 7am and arrive around 8am. This affords me some time to prepare for the day ahead and of course to beat the traffic. I teach across 5 modules of which all have both a practical and theoretical element. I will often find myself walking around 24,000 steps as I move between practical sessions and lectures. My only gripe is that my lectures are mostly held in both the top of the ATB and Minerva buildings, and I never use the lift! I thoroughly enjoy teaching and always strive to make my sessions as interactive as possible. I am lucky enough to have written all the modules I teach as the degree was in its first year when I joined. I feel that I have shaped the modules in such a fashion that it provides a great experience for the students, but I am acutely aware that everything changes and that I need to ensure that each module remains current.  Having spent most of my professional life in schools, it is a refreshing change to have so much autonomy over what I teach and working with students who enjoy the subject and have a thirst for knowledge. On days when I am not teaching, I tend to focus on other responsibilities such as placement provision for all three years in both primary and secondary schools, attending meetings, developing student engagement, and exploring different strategies which I can embed into my practice.

What are you responsible for in your role?

 I am responsible for the module leadership of 5 modules, a tutor group, and other aspects such as the development of a Primary PE micro credential, Student engagement PE conference (lead by another colleague) and being a HEA assessor. Recently we have been asked to engage in research which is something that I am nervous about, but I am sure that it will enhance my profile and provide me with another string to my bow which will hopefully benefit the students.

What is your most memorable moment working at the University?

This one is easy, attending my first graduation and all subsequent ones since. It is the proudest moment for any lecturer.

What is the best part of your job?

Working with the students and delivering practical sessions and lectures. I also enjoy sharing student work on Twitter, it is a great resource and one where I have acquired many ideas to embed into my practice. I always look forward to coming into work and am lucky to work in a school which is so supportive.

What do you love about living in Lincoln/Lincolnshire?

I grew up in Lincolnshire having moved away for around 17 years, I came home again. I love the fact that is it’s my home and all my family are here. The city itself is beautiful and I love working at the University.

What would you say to someone considering applying for a job at the University of Lincoln?

You will not regret it!