- Room FF17, PAHC building, PAHC, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL68BH
- +44 1752 587584
- tanja.krizaj@plymouth.ac.uk
Profiles
Dr Tanja Križaj
Lecturer in Occupational Therapy
School of Health Professions (Faculty of Health)
Biography
Biography
Programme Lead for MSc Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) Programme
Lecturer in Occupational TherapyOccupational Scientist
Qualitative Researcher
Erasmus Exchange Coordinator (Occupational Therapy Programme)
Qualifications
PhD Health Sciences (Plymouth University, 2017)
MSc in Advanced Occupational Therapy (Plymouth University, 2009)BSc in Occupational Therapy (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2003)
Professional membership
Member of British Association of Occupational Therapists
Registered with Health and Care Professions Council
Fellow of The Higher Education Academy, UK
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
Programme Lead for MSc Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) Programme
Leading modules and teaching on BSc and MSc Occupational Therapy Programmes
Acting as personal tutor and link tutor for students on practice placement
Erasmus+ exchange coordinator (students’ and teachers’ exchange), establishing links with other European Occupational Therapy Programmes
Supervision of BSc and MSc research projects and dissertations
Currently a Director of Studies for two PhD students
I am a qualitative researcher and lecturer with 12 years’ experience in higher education, both in the UK and previously in my home country Slovenia. My current role involves leading a postgraduate programme, coordinating module teams and facilitating students’ positive overall experience. My teaching involves the theory of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Foundations for Occupational Therapy practice, Qualitative Research Methodology, Evidence-Based Practice. Integrating clinical practice and theory, I am also incorporating my clinical experience in the area of Traumatic Brain Injury and Older Adults.
Staff serving as external examiners
2017 - 2021: External Examiner for BSc Occupational Therapy at the University College Cork (Ireland)
2021: External Assessor for a PhD progression at the University of Huddersfield
Research
Research
Research interests
My principal research interests lie in the field of occupational science and older adults. For my PhD I explored Slovenian older people’s experiences of engagement in meaningful occupations and their transition into residential care homes. I was using qualitative methodology based on phenomenology, more specifically Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and Ethnographic research methodology and methods, including observations and thematic analysis. I published my doctoral research in high quality journals (The Gerontologist, Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology) and presented nationally and internationally in Japan, Netherlands and Slovenia. Since completing my PhD in 2017 I have been working on multiple multidisciplinary research projects, focusing on older adults, everyday life and technology.
I am a peer-reviewer for Journal of Occupational Science, The Gerontologist, Ageing & Society and Slovenian Journal of Occupational Therapy.
Grants & contracts
2021: PhD Studentship (An Exploration of Occupation and Technology for Older People in Extra Care Housing). (Main applicant)
2021: ESRC Research Grant (Connectivity and Digital Design for promoting Health and Well-Being across Generations, Places and Spaces) (Co-Applicant)
2020: Higher Education Innovation Fund: Student-led Knowledge Exchange Challenge Fund for Digital Health (Co-Applicant)
2019: Cornwall Council: Echo Spot Care Home Project (Co-Applicant)
Publications
Publications
Journals
Edwards KJ, Jones RB, Shenton D, Page T, Maramba ID, Warren A, Fraser F, Krizaj T, Coombe T, Cowls H, Chatterjee A (2021). Implementing smart speakers for care home residents at scale across a region: uses, benefits and barriers (preprint). Journal of Medical Internet Research (accepted, in press).
Mihevc Š, Križaj T, Petek Šter M (2021). Experiences of caregivers with the use of the Montessori Method in working with the elderly and people with dementia in a care home: A case study. Slovenian Nursing review, 55(2), 102-112.
Križaj T, Roberts A, Warren A & Slade A (2019) 'Early Hour, Golden Hour: an Exploration of Slovenian Older People’s Meaningful Occupations' Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 34, (2) 201-221 , DOI Open access
Križaj T, Warren A & Slade A (2018) '"Holding on to What I Do": Experiences of Older Slovenians Moving into a Care Home' The Gerontologist 58, (3) 512-520 , DOI Open access
Čurič D, Pirnat S, Križaj T (2013). Baking ‘Potica’ as Slovenian older people’s meaningful occupation and a means for intergenerational cooperation. Good Quality of Old Age Journal, 16(2)
Krizaj T & Hurst J (2012) 'Perceptions of a client-centred approach among Slovenian occupational therapists' International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 19, (2) 70-78 , DOI
Križaj T (2012). Older people and meaningful occupations: literature review. IN Tomšič M (2012). Occupational therapy – Profession of the present. Collection of peer-reviewed Scientific papers, p95-104. Ljubljana: Faculty of Health Sciences.
Križaj T, Lebar C, Marušič V (2012). Occupational therapy services among Slovenian occupational therapists. IN Tomšič M (2012).Occupational therapy – Profession of the present. Collection of peer-reviewed Scientific papers, p141-148. Ljubljana: Faculty of Health Sciences.
Križaj T, Tomšič M (2011). Occupational therapy after stroke in a home environment. IN Bobnar A, Žvan B (2011). Multidisciplinary Intervention after Stroke II: Handbook for Health Professionals, p 79-90, Ljubljana: Faculty of Health Sciences.
Križaj T (2012). Older people and meaningful occupations: literature review. IN Tomšič M (2012). Occupational therapy – Profession of the present. Collection of peer-reviewed Scientific papers, p95-104. Ljubljana: Faculty of Health Sciences.
Conference presentations:
Križaj T, Warren A, Roberts A, Slade A (2019). ‘Enjoyable’ or ‘Filling Time’: The Influence of a Care Home Environment on Older Residents’ Everyday Occupations. Occupational Science Europe Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands, August 30-31, 2019.
Križaj T, Warren A, Roberts A, Slade A (2019). Older Slovenians’ Meaningful Occupations and Their Transition Into a Care Home. Occupational Science Europe Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands, August 30-31, 2019.
Križaj T, Warren A, Slade A, Roberts A (2016). The significance of Occupation and Others: Experiences of Older Slovenians Transitioning into Care Homes. VOYAGE Ageing Conference, June 10, 2016, Plymouth University.
Križaj T, Roberts A, Hennessy C (2014). Slovenian Older People’s Meaningful Occupations and Transition into a Care Home. 16th International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Yokohama, Japan, June 18-21, 2014.
Križaj T, Roberts A, Hennessy C (2014). Older people and meaningful occupations in Slovenia. 16th International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Yokohama, Japan, June 18-21, 2014.
Križaj T (2013). Older people’s meaningful occupations and transition into a care home. Online Technology for Occupational Therapy (OT4OT) – 24 hour virtual exchange conference (OT24VX), October 25, 2013.
Križaj T, Roberts A, Hennessy C (2012). Older people and meaningful occupations in Slovenia. 9th Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries (COTEC) Congress of Occupational Therapy, 24-27 May, 2012, Sweden: Stockholm.
Križaj T, Mihevc S, Jeraj J, Hafner A, Sicherl Z (2012). Occupational therapy recognition among older people in Slovenia. 6th Congress of Slovenian Occupational Therapists, 25.-27. October 2012, Slovenia: Bled.
Križaj T, Hurst J (2010). Perceptions of a client-centred approach among Slovenian Occupational Therapists. 15th World Congress of Occupational Therapists, 4-7 May 2010, Chile: Santiago.
Invited Keynote Lectures:
Križaj T (2018). Older Slovenians' Meaningful Occupations and the Impact of Transition into a Care Home on their Everyday Life [Dejavnosti starejših Slovencev in vpliv selitve v dom za starostnike na njihovo sodelovanje v vsakdanjem življenju] Slovenian Congress of Occupational Therapists, Ljubljana, Slovenia, October, 2018.
Conferences organised:
August 2013: Building a Mosaic of Health and Well-Being (Bled, Slovenia) - Co-Organiser
Invited Lecturers: Karen Jacobs, EdD, OTR/L, CPE, FAOTA, Boston University, USA; Nancy MacRae, M.S., OTR/L, FAOTA, University of New England, USA
Internet Publications
January/February 2019: Interview with Dr Tanja Krizaj (by Ruth Dempsey): Transitioning to a Care Home in Slovenia. Aging Horizons Bulletin, Canada
https://aginghorizons.com/2019/01/interview-transitioning-to-a-care-home-in-slovenia/
October 2018: Interview in a Slovenian Newspaper Dnevnik (by Mojca Lorencic): The need for Community-Based Occupational Therapy Services in Slovenia
August 2018: Interview as University of Plymouth Alumni (Dr Tanja Krizaj: exploring occupational science and older adults):
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/alumni-friends/alumni/meet-our-alumni/health-social-work/dr-tanja-krizaj