On 4 April, students on the Political Psychology module were invited to the City Hall, where they were received by the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Patricia McAllister and her office manager Kate Bowden.
The Political Psychology module combines research-based and research-oriented teaching with input from professionals who apply Political Psychology in their work, connecting research to employability. It is taught by Senior Lecturer Dr Thalia Magioglou, who also arranged the visit to the Lord Mayor. The purpose of this visit was to familiarise students with the public sphere and politics through first-hand experience.
The Lord Mayor of Westminster walked the visiting students through her early steps from her childhood in Scotland, where she was socialised into politics by her activist family and later through her role as a civil servant. Students asked questions regarding the role of the Lord Mayor of Westminster and learnt about the ceremonial aspect and the ways that the position interfaces with other public servants. The visit also included discussions of the subjective aspects of a public role and the importance of emotions and social identities for both the Lord Mayor of Westminster and citizens.
As a final project for their module, Political Psychology students will construct a research proposal as part of their assessment, applied to their community, constituency, or the broader political sphere. This visit offered them a more intimate perspective on a female politician's life and trajectory.
This visit directly contributed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about courses in Psychology at the University of Westminster.
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