In May 2025, Paula visited us from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden to tell us all about her planned research to develop CPD for secondary teachers. It was great to meet her. Here is what she had to say…
My name is Paula Wiktorell, and I am a PhD student at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. My research interest is reading, with a particular focus on upper secondary school students. For two weeks, I have had the opportunity to visit Royal Holloway University through an invitation from Professor Jessie Ricketts. I am at the very beginning of my doctoral studies, and it has been incredibly valuable to visit Professor Ricketts and learn from her research and expertise—it has helped me make significant progress in my own research project.
Being a PhD student can sometimes feel like being inside a tumble dryer that spits out a multitude of ideas, and that’s exactly how it has felt for me—in a positive way—during my time at Royal Holloway University. As I now return to Sweden, I bring with me many fond memories, but most importantly, I take with me new knowledge that will be invaluable on my journey to becoming a researcher.
I would like to thank everyone who made this visit a wonderful experience, and I would especially like to thank Professor Jessie Ricketts for giving me this opportunity.