Dr Laura Gerard
| Post Nominals | PhD; SFHEA; AACIPD |
|---|---|
| Biography | Laura is an experienced academic in the HRM subject group. Achieving her PhD in 2020, studying Sustainable Leadership practices within Higher Education Institutions. She is currently the Programme Leader for the Masters (MSc) in Human Resource Management programme, which is professionally accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Laura is an Academic Associate Member of the CIPD currently holding the core committee role within the South East Scotland branch as student and academic led; supporting students across institutions in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Additionally, in recognition of her experience and academic leadership in higher education, she is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE. Laura’s passionate about fostering and developing high levels of student experience, enabling, and fostering learning theory and embedding this in organisational practice. A champion and advocate of reflective practice, critical thinking and integrating theory to practice to develop future HR professionals. She does this by collaborating and working with colleagues, subject experts and practitioners. Additionally, Laura leads the HRM Professional Advisory Group with an established group of professionals spanning private, public and consultancy businesses. Furthermore, Laura leads knowledge into practice events (sponsored by ENU and CIPD) which foster and enable joint academic and practitioner debates and discussions, targeted to spur debate and challenge ‘business as usual’. Laura has a strong ethos of bridging the gap between theory and practice to critique and discuss research and best practices. She is an experienced quality enhancement professional, undertaking institutional, school and discipline roles maintaining and adhering to the quality and standards framework. Accomplished academic leader, with track record of successful and sustainable programme and module leadership roles both on campus, online and transnationally. Laura’s research interests lie within sustainable leadership, burnout, leadership development, employer branding, employee engagement and organisation culture. She has presented at a number of International Conferences including the International Human Resource Development Conference, Sustainable Leadership Conference and the International Studying Leadership Conference. Papers have included conceptualising Sustainable Leadership and also Employer Branding and its impact on Employee Engagement. In 2012 Laura won the National CIPD prize for her Masters dissertation entitled ‘Hand Picked Hotels: A critical evaluation of the employer branding and its impact on employee engagement’. |
| Research Interests | • Sustainable Leadership • Ethical practices and workplace ethics • Leadership • Employer Branding • Employee Engagement • Flexibility and precarious work (i.e. gig economy) • Organisational Behaviour and associated implications |
| Teaching and Learning | Laura is a dedicated member of the teaching, learning and assessment community within the Business School and wider University. Laura is currently a Senior Fellow of Advance HE demonstrating her academic leadership and CPD. She gained her postgraduate certificate in teaching and learning in Higher Education in 2014 and has been a fellow member of Advance HE since 2012, upgrading this in 2022. |
| PhD Supervision Availability | Yes |
| PhD Topics | Laura is keen to hear from potential doctoral candidates who share similar research interests |