Paulina Melichova MSc
Associate Lecturer in Skills Development

Profile

Biography

Paulina has joined the School for Business and Society in 2019, having previously worked at Dundee University. In her pedagogy and scholarship, Paulina draws on her BA English Language and Communication and French, as well as her knowledge and lived experience of group and transcultural communication. Paulina has spent a number of years teaching English in Central Asia and has gained her Post-graduate Diploma in Teaching English to Adults (DELTA) in 2017. Paulina is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (latterly Advance HE), and has completed her MSc in Applied Educational and Social Research in 2025, focusing on Emotional Labour in Academics for her thesis. Paulina is experienced in designing curricula and promoting a decolonised pedagogical approach that enables students to take ownership of their learning, and places them firmly at the centre of the process.

Departmental roles

Academic & Communication Skills Lead for MSc Human Resource Management and MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management.

University roles

Paulina engages with teaching in a number of programmes, including MSc Human Resource Management, MSc Management, MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management and MSc Health Economics.

Research

Overview

Paulina’s research interests centre on mental health in academia, decoloniality and feminist theory. Paulina has recently completed research into Emotional Labour in academics as part of her MSc.

Paulina is also a member of the interdisciplinary Diary methods group, and enjoys exploring other non-traditional research methods.

Teaching

Postgraduate

Paulina is the Academic and Skills Development Lead on the MSc Human Resource Management programme. She also contributes to other programmes within the Faculty of Social Sciences. Paulina collaborates closely with departmental staff to design and tailor lessons relevant to our student cohorts. She delivers skills lectures and module-specific seminars and workshops. This is complemented by skills tutorials, personal supervision, writing retreats and drop-in sessions. Paulina’s approach is informed by emerging student needs, and she endeavours to incorporate employability skills as well as sustainable development awareness into her teaching practice.

Publications

Selected publications

Martin, P., Melichova, P., O'Dea, M. (2025) 'How do we embrace AI?' The TELSIG Podcast with Phil Martin. 25 March 2025.

Melichova, P. (2025). ‘Recognition and Denial of Emotional Labour in Higher Education’. Mental Wellbeing in HE Conference. Advance HE, 14th May 2025. Sheffield.