Brian Smith

Brian Smith is a Senior Lecturer in the Institute for University to Business Education at GCU.

Specialising in work-based learning, work-integrated learning and Graduate Apprenticeships, Brian teaches business disciplines in areas such as Personal and Professional Development and Marketing to a cohort of mainly work-based students. He is Programme Leader for a major external programme of CertHE, DipHE and Degree qualifications for the Chartered Institute of Railway Operators (CIRO) in the UK and Ireland.

Brian has a Masters degree in Marketing from the University of South Wales and read Business Studies at the University of Ulster before embarking on a commercial career in marketing and business management spanning some 27 years, reaching senior management level before entering academia in 2014.

His combination of commercial experience and academic specialisms provide an ideal foundation for teaching work-based learners and developing work-based courses.

He is also a pioneer in the integration of Meta-skills into academic courses, and developed the first Meta-skill focused SCQF Level 5 qualification for use in schools in 2021.

Brian keeps his commercial acumen and knowledge current through regular CPD. He is also a Member of The Chartered Institute of Marketing and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

Brian's main academic specialism is in Social Marketing and Behavioural Economics. This uses the tools of Marketing and Behavioural Economics for social good, aiming to positively address societal problems in areas such as healthy eating, addiction issues, dementia care, antimicrobial resistance, homelessness, violence reduction, anti-social behaviour and loneliness, amongst other social issues.

Brian developed the first modules in Social Marketing to be taught at GCU at both Degree and Masters level. He currently works with the Yunus Centre at GCU to teach this module to students taking a Masters in Social Innovation.

Brian is also a researcher of work-based learning and Graduate Apprenticeships; most recently leading a GCU funded research project into the future needs of Graduate Apprenticeships and the impact of those needs on the University as a whole.

Brian sits on the University Senate and is the Disability Co-ordinator for the Institute for University to Business Education. He is a Senior Fellow of The Higher Education Academy and a Fellowship reviewer.