Dr Josephine NwaAmaka Bardi

I am a registered nurse and qualitative researcher with proven expertise in student engagement. I am a catalyst of the pedagogical social movement to include students’ voices in the development, implementation, and timely reviews of learning and teaching strategies. Inclusive university spaces promote positive student experiences and NSS response rates and reduce attrition. I have a BSc in Mental Health Nursing, an MSc in Public Health, and a Doctorate in Mental Health and Wellbeing funded by the Economic and Social Research Council from the University of Nottingham. The impact and the reach of my work are here https://rb.gy/rcldel

I am a Senior Lecturer, Visiting Professor, researcher, and academic leader with expertise in student mental health, student engagement, belonging, widening participation, loneliness, and equitable student outcomes in higher education.

My research centres on understanding and improving the experiences of diverse student populations through evidence based interventions, co creation, and partnership working. In 2015, I founded RAMHHE©, an innovative student engagement and wider participation framework that has informed research, practice, and policy development across higher education. Through this work, I secured competitive funding from the Economic and Social Research Council and the Office for Students exceeding £62,000.

I joined London South Bank University in January 2021 as a Senior Lecturer in Mental Health. Prior to joining London South Bank University, I taught Health Promotion and Public Health at undergraduate and postgraduate levels for five years at the University of East London.

My previous leadership roles have included Associate Dean for Education and Student Experience for Nursing and Midwifery, Chair of the BAME Staff Network, and London Regional RePAIR Academic Advisor for NHS England. Through these roles, I led strategic initiatives focused on student experience, engagement, mental health, and educational enhancement across higher education.

I developed the National Student Survey Coding Framework and the Student Mental Health Signposting Initiative, which was adopted regionally. I continue to work collaboratively with students, academic colleagues, professional services, and external stakeholders to improve student outcomes, wellbeing, and success.

I lead and collaborate on international research projects involving partners across the United Kingdom, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and Nigeria, focusing on student loneliness, mental health interventions, online learning experiences, and student wellbeing. This work has generated systematic reviews, qualitative studies, and collaborative research exploring student experiences, mental health, and belonging within higher education.

Between 2018 and 2020, I led a team of 178 student volunteers delivering student led mental health promotion campaigns, resulting in national recognition and inclusion on the UK Life Savers List.

My doctoral research has generated multiple studies, including ethnographic, auto ethnographic, interview, scoping review, and narrative review projects, contributing to the growing evidence base on student engagement and mental health in higher education. My current research continues to explore innovative approaches to student engagement, mental health promotion, widening participation, and inclusive educational practice through collaboration with students, academics, and international partners.

 

 

• PhD Supervisor
• Research Lead, RAMHHE©
• National and International Research Collaborator
• Knowledge Exchange and Impact Contributor
• Journal Peer Reviewer, JBI Evidence Synthesis
• Ethnographic Researcher
• Qualitative Researcher
• Mixed Methods Researcher
• Student Mental Health Researcher
• Higher Education Researcher
• Grant Funding Applicant and Contributor
• Co Investigator and Research Collaborator
• MSc Dissertation Supervisor
• Conference Presenter and Research Dissemination Lead
• Student Engagement and Belonging Research Lead
• Widening Participation Researcher
• Research Ethics and Governance Contributor
• Academic Mentor for Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and Doctoral Researchers

PhD Supervision MSc Dissertation Research in Health and Social Care Promoting and Preventing Ill Health Transition to Leadership Safe and Effective Practice