Shiza Khaqan

PhD Programme: Humanistic Studies
Research group: ASO – Anàlisi Social i Organitzativa
Supervisors: Gisela Redondo Sama 

Bio

Shiza Khaqan completed her BS (Hons) in Psychology from Forman Christian College - A Chartered University and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2016. After completing her bachelor's degree, she worked as an assistant psychologist at T.S.A Special Education School, providing support for children with special needs. Consequently, she developed an interest in early childhood development and child welfare. She was granted a Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue her master's degree in the UK. She completed her MSc in Family and child psychology from the University of Chester in 2018. She worked as a research trainee at UHS Lahore before commencing as a lecturer at Forman Christian College - A Chartered University, Lahore. Here she taught undergraduate psychology classes, supervised undergraduate thesis projects and participated in research activities. She is currently working on her doctoral research, focused on dialogic leadership in schools for transformative outcomes under the Martí i Franquès COFUND Doctoral Fellowship Programme.

Project: Dialogic leadership in schools for social transformation

Leadership in schools can generate dynamics of change that contribute to social transformation, enabling the improvement of quality education for all, in particular of vulnerable groups. Providing high-quality learning environments requires the involvement of the whole community, from teachers to students, families, volunteers and other educational agents. In this framework, recent contributions on leadership focus on the relationship between schools and surrounding communities. In this vein, dialogic leadership and how very diverse members of the community exercise their leadership through dialogue, show evidence about how dialogic leaders collaborate with teachers, families and students to improve education. To achieve quality education for all and based on the best scientific evidence, schools are not alone and need more than ever, the involvement of the whole community to lead change in dialogic ways. This project aims to advance knowledge by analyzing and uncovering emerging forms of leadership linked to dialogue and the involvement of diverse educational agents in schools. Specifically, this project will focus on the role of community participation in schools to identify dynamics of change linked to dialogic leadership that generate impacts in schools and beyond.

Outreach activities

• European Researchers' Night 2023: "Participa d'una reunió dialògica!".