Whilst travelling the world working for an international bank, Sandra Donnelly realised her true ambition was to help inspire the next generation of ethically conscious business leaders. After spending several years teaching in a secondary school, she returned to university to further her own research and hasn’t looked back since.
Now a Lecturer in Business Ethics and Sustainability here at Salford Business School, Sandra is helping shape the future of education through the design and delivery of innovative programmes that promote more ethical and sustainable ways of learning.
How did you get into academia as a career path?
I’ve had a very non-conventional route into academia. I studied Business Economics, then spent a decade working on strategic projects for an international bank. But the ethics of my career were challenged by what I saw while travelling in developing countries and visiting conservation projects, all while working on high-profile revenue projects, including how to best target Payment Protection Insurance and using emerging technologies to find new ways to charge interest and fees… Go me!
I left banking to teach business and economics with the ambition to help the next generation of business leaders consider the wider social impact of their decisions. Two decades of teaching and education leadership experience, board-level roles across conservation and education organisations, a master’s and a senior leadership apprenticeship eventually led to the opportunity to teach part-time on the level six Business Ethics and Sustainability module. I later joined the school full time to lead the module and develop my research.
Why did you choose to work at the University of Salford?
On a personal level, I’m passionate about our mission to enable students to flourish and contribute to society. I represent that mission: I was a first-generation student from what is now described as a widening participation background. I first joined Salford in 1992 as a Business Management undergraduate, and I returned as a lecturer almost exactly 30 years later.
It’s been a challenging journey, and the 18-year-old me would be astounded that I’m here, and in one piece. It’s a privilege to now support the students coming behind me.
On a professional level, academia is a completely different challenge, and I get to engage with more future leaders, from more diverse communities, than I ever could in my GCSE and A Level classrooms.
What’s the best thing about being an academic at Salford?
I can be more innovative and ambitious in designing and learning than I could in school-based roles. I love the diversity of experience and expertise across our staff and student community, there are so many conversations where I learn something new, or I’m challenged to think about something differently.
Beyond teaching, I get to be part of some fantastic teams, from developing the Carbon Literacy programme to designing a master’s in sustainability and collaborating on research to improve student outcomes. It’s great to be a part of a university that’s proud of its place and focused on making a difference.
Can you tell us about any of your career highlights to-date?
Achieving my Master of Education (MEd) despite the challenges of COVID, even more so because my project drove improved outcomes for students.
There are many highlights from my time as a trustee of Chester Zoo, particularly supporting a step-change in the education mission and recruiting the inaugural Youth Board. As a school governor, I’m especially proud of the long-term impact of our investment in O.P.A.L. Play has had on children’s social skills and learning.
But as an educator, the real highlights are the achievements of ours, and over 20 years, there have been a lot to celebrate.
On my first day back at Salford, I bumped into Darshan, one of my former students, also on his first day at Salford as an undergraduate Accounting student. He’s been in my year nine business class, studied GCSE Business Studies, and later A Level Economics with me. A few weeks ago, I got to cheer from the stage as he graduated.
What’s your current research focused on?
I’m focused on improving student completion, progression and attainment, particularly through reducing award gaps. In term one of 2024-25, I introduced a ‘track and triage’ approach in the level six Business Ethics and Sustainability module. Initial data suggests this helped improve student outcomes.
I’m now collaborating with colleagues from the strategy team and Salford Business School student support to build on this work. The next phase will evaluate the impact of a data-driven support and intervention model in a level six core module, exploring how intersectionality influences attainment and completion rates.
Do you have any published papers we can read?
Not yet, but soon!
And finally, the all important question, where in Manchester or Salford is best to grab a coffee?
The Old Fire Station. If I’m on campus, you’ll find me there just after opening, drinking a post-swim cappuccino (I’m the one by the window with wet hair and goggle marks!)
In the city centre, it has to be Cuppello’s on Oldham Street.