Lecturer in Management

I am a lecturer in the Leadership and Management department. My teaching philosophy centers around active learning and developing students into versatile thinkers who can apply knowledge innovatively. Before joining the University of Bedfordshire in 2020, I taught various courses at other universities. I have experience running my own business projects and providing consulting services to SMEs on several e-commerce platforms.

My main research interests include semiotics - the study of signs and meaning-making, with a focus on cognitive processes like abductive reasoning for creating novel meaning. I also have more specific interest in the study of imagination and consciousness which I have discussed in my PhD thesis.

Other References

• Research Gate
• Google Scholar
• Member of the editorial board for Social Semiotics Journal

Qualifications

• PhD in Cognitive semiotics and communication, Middlesex University
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Associate Fellow of BALEAP
• QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)
• MA in Communication
• BA in Marketing
• BA in Philology

Teaching Expertise

• Digital marketing
• Consumer behaviour
• Business and marketing communication
• Intercultural communication
• Strategy
• Risk management
• Entrepreneurship
• Research skills.

Research Interests

• Cognitive semiotics
• Behavioural science
• Sustainability and critical consumption
• Sustainable Development Goals
• Analytics and technological innovations
• Epistemology
• Philosophy of mind

Projects

• Abductive reasoning and audience engagement through metaphors for sustainability in reducing food waste.

Publications

• Pistol, R. (2022) The effectiveness of 'Reading aloud' when teaching academic skills, UOB CEFL Journal online.
• Pistol, R. and Bouherar, S. (2020). Broadening Relevance: The Polemic Property of Concepts in Metaphorical Language. European Scientific Journal, ESJ.
• Pistol, R. (2019) A guide to Conference Calls in English, Maya Publishing, Romania.
• Pistol, R. (2018). Types of Inferences in the Comprehension of Metaphor. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 8(8), 899-905.

Conference presentations:

• Pistol, R. (2023) 'Abductive reasoning and audience engagement', oral presentation, Postgraduate Researchers' Summer Conference, Middlesex University. July.
• Pistol, R. (2023) 'Novelty in meaning', poster presentation, 16th Researching and Applying Metaphor International Conference, Spain. June.
• Pistol, R. (2021) 'Aesthetic experience in how we comprehend meaning', oral presentation, Summer Conference, Middlesex University. June.
• Pistol, R. (2020) 'Academic language and study skills in online teaching during Covid-19', oral presentation, LEZINRU, University of Mohamed El-Bachir El-Ibrahimi Bordj Bou Arreridj, June
• Pistol, R. (2018) 'Same or different cognitive processes for conventional and novel meaning?', Middlesex University Summer Conference, June.
• Pistol, R. (2018) 'Inferences in meaning comprehension', WORK: PLAY' Easter Conference, Middlesex University. March.
• Pistol, R. (2017) 'Intuitive and reflective inferences in the comprehension of metaphors', poster presentation, mFil Manchester University, April.

Contact Details

E: Ramona.Pistol@beds.ac.uk