Dr. Mohamed Hawela

Biography

A well-rounded academic, management consultant, and researcher with 20+ years of experience in the United Kingdom and other countries. Started working in higher education in 1998.

Specialising in strategy, knowledge management, organisational learning, individuals, groups, and organisational development. Highly skilled in supporting and nurturing creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Highly skilled in management information systems, e-learning, and e-training. Currently researching and focusing on the impact of AI and big data on various types of business activities, business process automation, and robotics. Also researching the future applications of 3D-printed food. Highly experienced in supervising PhD’s and master’s degrees students to completion.

I have experience in creating and developing academic degrees (programmes or courses). I can contribute to the development of master’s degree programmes, Doctoral of Business Administration (DBA), and PhD programmes.

Profile

Teaching Philosophy Statement

I am deeply committed to excellence in teaching and learning, fostering an environment where students thrive academically, intellectually, and personally. Since commencing my academic career in higher education in 1998, I have accumulated extensive teaching experience across three countries—Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. Since 2005, I have been dedicated to teaching in UK higher education, where I continually expand my expertise in delivering undergraduate and postgraduate education. Over the course of my career, I have successfully supervised hundreds of undergraduate, MSc, and MBA dissertations. Additionally, I contribute to online MBA programs, and I have supervised PhD candidates to successful completion while also serving as an internal and external examiner for doctoral theses.

I aspire to create a stimulating and inclusive learning environment that empowers students to achieve their full potential. My teaching philosophy is inherently student-centred, prioritising strategies that facilitate learning and foster engagement. I have substantial experience teaching in fully online, blended, and face-to-face formats, each requiring thoughtful differentiation in pedagogical approaches to ensure student engagement, development, and progression. Consequently, I adapt my teaching style, content, and support mechanisms to align with the specific needs of my students, the intended learning outcomes, and the context of delivery.

I am passionate about providing robust academic and pastoral support while fostering an engaging, interactive learning environment. My teaching practice is grounded in the principle of constructive alignment, ensuring that learning outcomes are seamlessly integrated with module content, teaching strategies, learning activities, and formative and summative assessments. In designing modules, I prioritise the alignment of intended learning outcomes with content delivery and assessment methods. Formative and summative assessments are strategically employed to encourage students to engage deeply with course material, supporting them in achieving their academic objectives. My pedagogical approach is influenced by Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, ensuring that students encounter content that is both challenging and attainable.

In large-group teaching contexts, I deliver lectures both in-person and through pre-recorded video formats. For small-group learning, I employ individual and collaborative activities during seminars to foster interaction and critical thinking. Contemporary case studies, presented through print, illustrations, and video, are integral to my teaching, enabling students to bridge theoretical concepts with practical application.

To enhance student learning, I emphasise the use of feedforward strategies, which go beyond traditional feedback by providing proactive guidance throughout the learning process. For example, I have designed, developed, and implemented online feedforward videos to support student engagement with assessments. These initiatives have demonstrably improved student engagement, pass rates, and progression. My pedagogical research on the impact of feedforward videos highlights their significant positive effects on students’ self-efficacy, satisfaction, and engagement, findings that continue to inform my teaching practices.

I employ a range of assessment strategies to evaluate and promote learning, including written assignments, online multiple-choice questions, case studies, group presentations, individual video presentations, peer-marking, and interactive questioning techniques. These strategies are carefully selected to align with learning outcomes, module content, and the diverse needs of students, while also considering institutional resources.

Understanding my students holistically is central to my approach, enabling me to support not only their cognitive development but also their emotional and social well-being. I draw inspiration from Maslow’s humanistic approach and his Hierarchy of Needs, striving to ensure that students feel safe, valued, and welcomed in the learning environment. Meeting these fundamental needs creates a foundation for effective learning and personal growth. I also collaborate with university support services, such as the wellbeing team, to provide additional assistance to students with disabilities, learning challenges, or mental health concerns.

I believe that contemporary students require more than the acquisition of knowledge to succeed in the evolving global landscape. They need to develop critical thinking, creativity, and metacognitive skills to navigate and excel in the jobs of the future. To this end, I encourage students to critically analyse concepts from diverse and often competing perspectives. I also support their development of metacognitive skills, enabling them to reflect on their learning processes and discover strategies for improving their learning efficiency and effectiveness.

In conclusion, my teaching philosophy is underpinned by a commitment to fostering a supportive, engaging, and intellectually stimulating environment where students can achieve academic success and develop the critical skills necessary for their future endeavours.

Other Activities

Education

PhD: University of Ulster (UK, NI) – Business and Management, Dec. 2011

Thesis: E-Learning as a Tool for Organisational Learning and Knowledge Management in International Hotel Companies

  1. (MPhil): Hotels Management, June 2001

BSc: Hotels Management (First Class), June 1996

Leading three international research teams:

  • Researchers from Istanbul Commerce University, with access to over 600,000 businesses via the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce.
  • Researchers from Imam University in Saudi Arabia, supported by research funding and open-access initiatives. Won a research grant of 120,000 SR (£25,300) for June 2024–June 2025.
  • A multidisciplinary team comprising a medical doctor from Birmingham Women’s Hospital and a professor of AI from the University of Sharjah, UAE.

Personal Skills & Attributes

  • Develop international contacts and networks; engage with and understand other cultures. Capable of educating, advising, training, and guiding students, peers, researchers, and staff in various organisational issues. Provides consultancy for SMEs and start-ups.
  • Highly skilled in getting new technologies or ideas adopted by non-research specialists and industries.
  • Values the teaching-learning-research and industry connection and interactions.
  • Supervises postgraduate researchers and acts as an external and internal examiner at the doctoral level. Supervises master’s and undergraduate students.
  • Leads teaching programmes and their evaluation/quality assurance procedures.
  • Designs and develops academic programmes (courses) and leads the academic team through approval and validation processes.
  • Constructs coherent arguments and articulates ideas clearly to a range of audiences, both formally and informally, through a variety of techniques.
  • Actively listens and communicates confidently, presenting a convincing case.
  • Makes positive use of diversity and difference to enrich projects and outputs.
  • Acts as a personal tutor to provide pastoral care for students.
  • Effectively supports the learning of others in teaching or mentoring roles, understanding the importance of mentorship and receiving mentoring.
  • Sets clear expectations, clarifies goals, and negotiates realistic deadlines.
  • Shows consideration to others; listens, gives, and receives feedback, and responds perceptively.
  • Understands the legal obligations of the profession and advises peers and less experienced researchers, particularly regarding data ownership and compliance with legislation such as the Data Protection Act and Equality Act.
  • Believes in honesty, hard work, and respecting others. Enjoys working independently and as a trusted team player. Passionate about helping others, sharing knowledge and skills, and constantly learning new things.
  • Synthesises and understands complex content, problem-solves, considers the big picture while managing details, applies advanced research methods, and exercises good judgement.
  • Resilient, able to recover quickly after setbacks, learns from failure, and persists to achieve goals.
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.

Higher Education Teaching Qualifications

  • Supervising Postgraduate Research (SEDA Certified), Birmingham City University, UK – Nov. 2020
  • Pedagogy of E-learning (SEDA Certified), University of Ulster, UK – June 2007
  • Certified E-tutor, Ulster University, UK – March 2006
  • Accredited Associate Teacher in Higher Education (SEDA Certified), Ulster University, UK – June 2005

Academic Activities

  • PhD External Examiner, University of Chester (UK)
  • PhD External Examiner, Aberystwyth University (UK)
  • PhD Internal Examiner, Birmingham City University (UK)
  • Member of the Research Ethics Committee, Birmingham City University (UK)
  • Member of the British Academy of Management
  • Member of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
  • Ad-hoc Reviewer: International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management (3-star or Q1)
  • Ad-hoc Reviewer: Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insight

Academic Appointments

Senior Lecturer in Management – Birmingham City University (UK), 07/01/2019–Present
  • Supervise PhD, Master’s degree, and level 6 students (Final year undergraduate),
  • Design and develop modules contents
  • Design and develop formative and summative assessments
  • Apply quality assurance standards
  • Successfully, designed and developed an academic programme (course) and led the academic team through approval and validation processes. Please, watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YlD8CXSvyI
  • Act as a module/s leader
  • Act as an external examiner for PhD assessments (PhD Viva)
  • Act as an internal examiner during periodic PhD reviews
  • Member of the research ethics committee
  • Member of The Centre for Enterprise, Innovation and Growth (CEIG)
  • Member of the Centre for Applied Finance and Economics (CAFÉ)
  • Module leader for the following modules: Strategic Management in an International Context (online MBA); Applied Management; Strategic management; Understanding Organisation and Organisational Behaviour; Creativity and Innovation.

 

Teaching the following modules:

Level 8 PhD and DBA

  • Supervise PhD students.
  • Teaching RES 8000 (Pilot Inquiry) in the Doctorate of Business Administration programme.

Level 7 Modules:

  • Strategic Management and Leadership (MAN 7137)
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation (BUS 7091)
  • Strategic Management in an International Context (MAN 7117)
  • Leadership Development (HRM 7052)
  • Enhancing Management Skills (MAN 7081)
  • Integrated Business

Undergraduate Modules:

  • Innovative thinking for organisational development (BUS 6066)
  • Creativity and Innovation (MAN 4026)
  • Strategic management (MAN 6073)
  • Applied Management (MAN 5058)
  • Contemporary Global Management Issues (MAN 5057)
  • The Global Manager (MAN 6037)
  • Understanding Organisation and Organisational Behaviour (HRM 4001)
  • The real world of management (MAN 6006)

 

Lecturer in Management – Sunderland University in London (UK), 01/11/2017–06/01/2019
  • Supervised professional doctorate, Master’s, and Level 6 students.
  • Managed operational activities for Level 6 programmes.
  • Delivered modules including:
    • Research Methods (Level 7)
    • Marketing Strategy
    • Introduction to Marketing
    • Contemporary Business Issues in a Globalised Environment
Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader – GSM London (Plymouth University Partner), 2012–2017
  • Supervised PhD student to completion
  • Acted as an internal examiner at PhD “Viva Voce”
  • Supervised dissertations of level 6 and level 7 students
  • Taught large and small groups
  • Designed and developed assessments
  • Participated in curriculum design and development
  • Measured and assessed students’ satisfaction and engagement (through, NSS, module questionnaire and students’ perception questionnaire, focus groups and personal interview)
  • Measured and assessed the performance of lecturers.
  • Assured the achievement of the learning outcomes in each module.
  • Ensured that all the requirements of the UK quality code for higher education are being met.
  • Collaborated with the quality office
  • Collaborated with the marketing and students’ recruitment team
  • Worked in collaboration with the head of department
  • Wrote modules reports
  • Module leadership
  • Participated in formulating and executing the teaching and learning strategy
  • Conducted research and published research papers, book chapters, and conference presentations)
  • Provided pastoral care for students
  • Taught in the following areas: Strategic Management; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Management; Management Information Systems; Management Principles; E-Tourism and Marketing.
Sessional Lecturer – University of Ulster (UK), 2005–2012
  • Delivered lectures, seminars, and IT workshops.
  • Provided formative and summative feedback to students.
  • Taught modules including:
    • Creativity in Management
    • Service Marketing
    • Research Methods
    • Contemporary Issues in Management
Lecturer in Management – Egypt and Saudi Arabia, 1998–2004

Research-Related Activities

Application for Research Grants

  • Applied for The Society for the Advancement of Management Studies (SAMS) and the British Academy of Management (BAM) Research and Capacity Building Grant. The value of the grant is £150,000 (unsuccessful, with excellent feedback), 2019

Research Hackathon

5th World Research Summit for Tourism and Hospitality 13-16 December, 2019 | UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Orlando, Florida, USA

Published Work

Hawela, M., Bayraktar, O., Karabulut, A.T., Sarı, B. and Alqahtani, M.S., 2025. Advancing Sustainability in Turkish Hospitality Sector: The Interplay Between Green HRM, Eco-Friendly Behaviors, and Organizational Support. Sustainability, 17(5), p.1958.

Hawela, M.; Al-Qahtani, M. and Psychogios, A. (2023) Exploring HRM Implementations of AI in the Hospitality Organisations in the KSA. 7th World Research Summit for Hospitality and Tourism 08 – 11 December 2023 | UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Orlando, Florida, USA

Hawela, M.; Al-Qahtani, M. and Bouridane, A. (2023) Exploring the developments and implementations of 3d printed food in the hospitality industry. 7th World Research Summit for Hospitality and Tourism 08 – 11 December 2023 | UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Orlando, Florida, USA

Karabulut, T; Hawela, M.; Bayraktar, O. and Sarı, B. (2023) The effect of green human resource management on environmental performance in hospitality sector: Mediating role of employees’ eco-friendly behavioral and work engagement and moderating role of green organizational support. 7th World Research Summit for Hospitality and Tourism 08 – 11 December 2023 | UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Orlando, Florida, USA

Phan, A. and Hawela, M. (2022) Exploring the applications of AI in HRM. British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference “Reimagining business and management as a force for good” Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester 31 August – 2 September 2022 (accepted)

Hawela, M. and Hassan, I (2020) 3D printing in perineal repair: A novel high-fidelity approach. Accepted as a developmental paper in British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference

Hawela, M. and Morris, B. (2019) Managing Employees’ Knowledge in International Hotel Companies: A Retrospective Case Study of Innov@ccor. British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference “Building and Sustaining High Performance Organisations in Uncertain Times: Challenges and Opportunities”, Aston University. UK 3-5 September 2019 

Hawela, M. (2018) Co-Innovation in the Hospitality and Tourism Organisations: A Theoretical Framework. Faculty of Business, Law and Tourism Research Conference “Advancing research: innovation and impact”, University of Sunderland. UK 13/09/2018.

Hawela, M.; Hassanein, A. and Ennsra, M (2016) Exploring Co-creation Practices in the International Hospitality Organisations: A Theoretical Framework. British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference “Thriving in Turbulent Time”, Newcastle University. UK 6-8 September 2016

Ennsra, M. and Hawela, M. (2016) An initial framework for Communication Breakdown Behaviour and its causes using a Grounded Theory Approach. British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference “Thriving in Turbulent Time”, Newcastle University. 6-8 September 2016

Hawela, M. and Jahankhani, H. (2016) Reflection on Supporting Widening Participation Students: From feed-forward videos to scaffolding learning. FACE (Forum for Access to Continuing Education) Conference “Widening Participation in the Context of Economic and Social Change”; Queens University Belfast UK 29 June – 01 July 2016 (Poster)

Hawela, M (2016) Examining the Online Marketing Activities of the Hotels in Minia Governorate (Egypt). Minia University International Conference “Tourism Future in the Arab Region and Middle East: Challenges and Potentials”. Minia University, Egypt 27-29 October 2016.

Hawela, M., Hassanein A.; and Dale, C. (2013) Knowledge Management. In: A. Hassanien and C.Dale, ed. Facilities Management and Development for Hospitality, Tourism and Events. UK: CABI Publications.

Hawela, M.; Boyle, E.; Murray, A; and Connolly, M (2007) Web-Logs and Wikis:  Tools for Organizational Learning, Collaboration and Knowledge Management in International Hotel Companies. EuroCHRIE Conference “25 years of Showcasing Innovation in Education, Training and Research through Tourism, Hospitality and Events”. Leeds UK 25-27 October 2007.

Hawela, M.; Boyle, E.; and Murray, A. (2007) Enablers of Electronic Organizational Learning in the Hospitality Industry in Ireland. 3rd Annual Conference on Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland ‘Working Together’. Dundalk, Ireland 12-13 June 2007.

Hawela, M.; Boyle, E.; and Murray, A. (2007) E-Learning As A Tool For Knowledge Creation In International Hotel Companies, IN: M. Sigala, L Mich and J. Murphy, ed. 2007. Proceedings of the 14th International conference ‘Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism’, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, January, Springer Wien New York, (printed in Austria).

Pedagogy Related Publications:

Hawela, M. and Al-Habash, O. (2017) Measuring Students’ Satisfaction and Engagement with Feed-Forward Videos and Scaffolding Teaching. 6th Annual PedRIO Conference, Plymouth University; 4th April 2017.

Hawela, M.; and Dawood (2016) Creating a Conducive Blended Learning Environment for Students: The Flipped Learning Approach. Minia Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research Vol. 1, Issue 2.

Hawela, M. and Jahankhani, H. (2016) Reflection on Supporting Widening Participation Students: From feed-forward videos to scaffolding learning. FACE (Forum for Access to Continuing Education) Conference “Widening Participation in the Context of Economic and Social Change”; Queen’s University Belfast UK 29 June – 01 July 2016 (Poster)

Books

Hawela, M. & Edwards, T. (2014) Management Principles. Pearson Education. Essex. UK (A book tailored to the module)

Keynote Presentations in Conferences

Hawela, M. (2013) Innovation in Utilising Free Web Technologies in Teaching and Learning: A Case Study of Weebly Integration with other Web Applications. III LSBM Teaching and Learning Conference 2013. “Unlocking the Potential: Innovation in Higher Education Teaching, Learning and Assessment”. London

Research Related Training

  • Structural Equation Modelling (Parts 1 & 2)
  • Nvivo Training courses
  • Project Risk Management
  • Developing Reflexive Skills in Qualitative Research
  • Writing a Critical Literature Review
  • SPSS