Dr Imran Akhtar is a senior academic with nearly ten years of teaching, Level 4 (undergraduate first year) to Level 8 (PhD) and extensive research advancement and publication experience. He has a keen interest in Entrepreneurship, Organisational Routines, Higher Education Internationalisation and Strategy. He is an experienced programme leader, having led a suite of MSc Programmes spanning from marketing, entrepreneurship, and finance to marketing specialisms. He successfully launched an MSc in international business management online, which attracted students from many countries.

In his current role at the University, he is responsible for a PhD cohort of 50 plus Doctoral Candidates and advancing and fostering the research across the three identified research strands, Data Analytics and Digital Transformation (DADT), Crypto and Block Currencies, Accounting, Finance, Economics and Governance (AFEG) and Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Management (SEMM)

Industrial Experience
Before his academic profile, Dr Akhtar had a wealth of industry experience spanning nearly 20 years. Has was an experienced travel consultant for five years, where he managed many corporate accounts, worked for the Finnish Post, and was an entrepreneur. Furthermore, he worked for a local estate agent with dealings mainly in the commercial lettings. Before embarking on the Doctoral journey, he worked for the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Research Interests and Research Subject Specialisms:
Organisational Routines, Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Higher Education Internationalisation

Teaching specialisms:
Postgraduate-Research (Doctoral-Level)
Member, Board of Studies for Research Degrees
Doctoral Supervision and Examination
Chair, Doctoral Progression (MPhil to PhD)

Postgraduate-Taught
Research Methods (MBA and MSc)
Human Resource Management (Executive MBA)
Global Strategy Development (MSc)
Strategic Leadership and Organisational Transformation (MBA)
MBA Thesis Supervision
MSc Thesis Supervision
Investigating Business Practice, Live Business Projects

Undergraduate-Taught
Contemporary Global Management Issues
The Global Manager (on-campus and TNE)
Organisational Improvement Project
International Business Strategy
Making Sense of Organisations
Applied Management
Work-Based Learning
Management and Organisation
Managing Effective Organisations
Dynamic Business Environment

Publications and Research:
Rees-O’Donnell, L and Akhtar, I. (ed.) (2022) Proceedings of Chartered Association of Business Schools - Learning, Teaching and Student Experience Conference on More than a wife and a mother: Do British women of South Asian origin study for business and management undergraduate degree to secure employment?. Belfast, United Kingdom, 24-25 May, 2022. [Online] Available from: https://charteredabs.org/. [Accessed 24 June 2022].

Nabi, G., Walmsley, A. and Akhtar, I., 2019. Mentoring functions and entrepreneur development in the early years of University. Studies in Higher Education, pp.1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1665009 . CABS 3* listed.

Nabi, G., Walmsley, A., Liñán, F., Akhtar, I. and Neame, C., 2018. Does entrepreneurship education in the first year of higher education develop entrepreneurial intentions? The role of learning and inspiration. Studies in Higher Education, 43(3), pp.452-467. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2016.1177716 . CABS 3* listed.

Akhtar, I, 2017. Dynamic managerial capabilities: the case of international student recruitment at the UK higher education institutions. Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University. https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/619491/1/Imran%20Akhtar%20PhD%20Thesis.pdf

Akhtar, I, 2015. Dynamic capabilities and organisational routines. The case of the UK Higher Education Institutions. This is a poster presented at 8th MMU Postgraduate Research Conference 2015. https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/617298/2/Poster%20%283%29.pdf

Akhtar, I, 2014. Dynamic capabilities and organisational routines. British Academy of Management, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Akhtar, I, 2014. Dynamic capabilities and organisational routines in the UK Higher Education Institutions Doctoral Symposium, Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.

Akhtar, I, 2013. The utility of dynamic capabilities. European Doctoral Programmes Association in Management and Business Administration. Soreze France.

Akhtar, I, 2013. Untangling dynamic capabilities: how they change. Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.

Akhtar, I, Matthias, K,. 2002. Network management, Leipzig: Inomic, Research und Coaching GmbH. Leipzig, Germany

Professional Body Membership:
British Academy of Management
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
PhD candidates under my Directorship:

In addition to the following Doctoral Candidates under my Directorship, I am keen to speak to and supervise applicants who can demonstrate considerable theoretical knowledge and methodological experience in areas such as Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Higher Education.

Enobong Akpan-Etuk - Sustainable farming and supply chain: The impact of technology on the Fairtrade farmers in Africa
Naveed Matloob - Impact of Talent Management Strategies on Business Performance
Charles Nzeh - Innovative Start-ups in Agriculture: The Effects of Establishing Agripreneurship via Social Entrepreneurship for Youths in South-
Eastern Nigeria
Md Asadul Haque Mamun - An exploration of the use of the succession planning model in the development and management of talent in the
hospitality sector in the UK