Orla Smith FHEA
Senior Lecturer
My profile
Biography
I am a Senior Lecturer in Retail Operations and Marketing. I joined Manchester Metropolitan University in 2018.
I am also a PhD researcher; my topic is Male Consumer Behaviour in relation to skin care cosmetics.
My career in education began 2015 after spending more than 20 years in Retail as a senior manager most notably for Debenhams where I spend 15 years; I have also worked for Primark. It was while studying for my degree and working full-time in retail, that my ambition to pursue a career in education first emerged, thriving on understanding the practical application of academic theory in my workplace.
In my spare time, I love travelling, especially to Southeast Asia. I am a keen observer of politics and current affairs more broadly.
Interests and expertise
I have several years extensive senior management experience working within the highly competitive retail industry. The front line knowledge and experience I gained during this time, as well as keeping myself abreast of current events within this ever changing industry, helps inform my teaching in the classroom.
My key areas of interest are business management and leadership and consumer behaviour.
QUALIFICATIONS AND AWARDS
- BA Hons (First Class)
- PGC LTHE (Double Distinction)
MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
- Chartered Association of Business School (AMBE)
Teaching
I teach and supervise students whom study Retail and Marketing programmes.
I am also Unit Leader on the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) and Retail Leadership programmes. A blended learning approach is employed for teaching units on these programmes; initially in a face-to-face group setting classroom environment with subsequent online week by week teaching material and activities which are available for students to access and complete electronically on Moodle. Completed online activities receive invaluable feedback designed to support students assessments.
As a unit leader, I create and embed teaching material in my units that combines academic theory, industry literature and key life skills; all of which serve to augment employability and which are supplemented by work-based learning and assessments. My teaching approach aims to help and support students achieve their maximum potential, both academically and professionally, with inclusiveness at the forefront.
My dedication to deliver an excellent student experience, through effective inclusive and blended learning approaches to teaching, learning and assessment, was recognised by the award of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) in 2017.
Managing and Leading People in Retail (Level 5)
Management and Leadership in Retail (Level 5)
Supervision
UG: Negotiated Business Project Advanced (Level 6)
PG: Applied Research Proposal (Level 7)
PG: Applied Research Project (Level 7)