Senior lecturer in Nonprofit Management. Deputy Director Student Experience, School of Business and Management. Academic Lead UG Year in Industry.
My scholarship is dedicated to enhancing student skills and employability at QMUL. I have spearheaded several initiatives, including the MSc Management student-led business case competition. This competition, which has gained recognition, not only provides a platform for students to apply their knowledge but also earned one of the MSc Management students the prestigious QMUL SEED award. Additionally, I developed the ‘Contemporary Live Project’ module, a capstone project that integrates real-world sustainability challenges with theories. Alongside this, I developed the ‘Skills and Methods for Sustainable Management module to enhance students’ skills and prepare them for writing their Capstone projects. These modules are designed not only to build students’ skills and competencies but also to engage them with contemporary challenges, preparing them for future professional environments. These have led me to work on projects and take on the Queen Mary Academy Learning and Teaching Enhancement Fellowship, where I continued to work on student skills enhancement practice initiatives and champion the QMUL Active Curriculum for Excellence (ACE) approach. Some of the outputs from my projects have been presented at national and international conferences, such as the Academy of Management (AoM), Advance HE and the Chartered Association of Business Schools Learning, Teaching & Student Experience. I have also published them in reputable outlets, such as the British Educational Research Association (BERA) and the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) educational magazine. I am also passionate about incorporating and exploring the topics of voice, silence, and inclusion into my practice and research. I have brought them to projects that I have worked on incorporating students’ voices through the SBM Consult program. This led to my BERA blog on Educators’ approach to ‘silence’ and ‘listening differently.
The results and impact of my scholarship inspired me to share my learning and reflections through different reputable outlets. When I applied for my senior fellowship, the impact and outcomes of these initiatives were already showcasing my contributions to enhancing student skills and employability. This provided compelling evidence for my application. The outcomes and influence of my scholarship projects have significantly advanced my career by establishing me within innovative educational practices that embed skills and employability in students’ development. The recognition of my publications has strengthened my credibility and visibility within the academic community. Additionally, developing impactful modules like the 'Contemporary Live Project' has enabled me to establish strong partnerships with industry leaders, further blending practical insights into academic settings. Being nominated for the QMUL President and Principal award and Education award shows that the work in this area is being recognised by students and the university. These achievements have strengthened my profile, leading to increased opportunities for collaboration, research funding, and invitations to speak at conferences, thus furthering my academic career.
The impact of my scholarship is multi-faceted, significantly enhancing student skills and employability while also contributing to the field of educational practices. Through initiatives such as the student-led business case competition and the ‘Contemporary Live Project’ module, students have gained recognition and awards, such as the QMUL SEED award. Both the student-led business case competition and Contemporary Live Project module partnered with mission-aligned organisations, enhancing the university’s education strategy of building partnerships and providing world-class, outstanding education for our students. These contributions have not only improved student experience but have also established strong connections with industry, integrating real-world applications into the academic curriculum. Furthermore, my scholarship has gained recognition through publications and awards, increasing my visibility and credibility in the academic community.
Scholarship is rewarding, especially seeing the impact of your work. Turn the issues and challenges in your area and practice into scholarship work, evaluate the impact and write and publish in reputable outlets. Collaborating with colleagues is a great way to develop that understanding of scholarship and produce scholarly work. Such collaborative efforts often lead to innovative research that can significantly enhance the academic discourse in your field, thereby producing results and impact for your academic career.