Rate My Professor Fiona Saunders

Professor Fiona Saunders is Professor of Project Management Education in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she currently serves as Director of the Centre for Learning Enhancement and Educational Development (LEED). From 2017 to 2022, she was Faculty Director of Education in the same faculty. She holds a PhD in the Management of Projects from the University of Manchester (2016), a Master of Business Administration with Distinction from Lancaster University Management School (1999), a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Class 2(i) in Applied Physics and Electronics from the University of Durham (1991), and an Institute of Linguists Diploma in German (1997). Her professional career began as a Graduate Process Engineer at the Autobar Group, advancing to Project Manager, followed by Principal Project Management Consultant at PA Consulting Group and Project Manager at UMI3. Prior to joining Manchester Metropolitan University in 2017, she was Senior Lecturer in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering at the University of Manchester, where she also served as Reader in Engineering Project Management, Head of the Project Management Teaching Group, and Academic Lead for eLearning.

Saunders specializes in the management of complex engineering projects, with a focus on uncertainty in safety-critical sectors such as civil nuclear, aerospace, and oil and gas industries. Her research also encompasses engineering and project management education, technology-enhanced teaching and learning, student engagement, employability, assessment practices, blended and distance learning environments, and the integration of video and rich media resources. She is a Principal Fellow of AdvanceHE (PFHEA, 2020), a Chartered Engineer (CEng, 1997), and a Member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (MIET, 1997). Notable publications include the book Project Finance Casebook (Pearson Education, 2012); the book chapter 'Dualities and Dilemmas: Managing uncertainty in nuclear projects' (Woodhead Publishing, 2021); and peer-reviewed journal articles such as 'Responding to uncertainty: evidence for high reliability practices in large-scale, safety-critical projects' (International Journal of Project Management, 2016), 'Exploring staff attitudes to distance learning – what are the opportunities, challenges and impacts on engineering academics and instructional designers' (European Journal of Engineering Education, 2020), 'Delivering new nuclear projects: a megaprojects perspective' (International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 2019), and 'Use of rich-media resources by engineering undergraduates' (European Journal of Engineering Education, 2017). Her contributions have advanced high-reliability project organizing and innovative pedagogic practices in engineering education.