Engineering management
We lead transdisciplinary research and education in engineering management and project studies to address global challenges. By bridging academia, industry, and government, we deliver impactful research and teaching that empower future leaders to advance sustainability, drive digital innovation, and promote social responsibility worldwide.
UK’s first academic group in project management since the 1960s.
Active collaborations with partners around the world.
Strong ties with industry, government, and academia.
Multidisciplinary expertise spanning across engineering, management, social sciences and digital transformation.
Transforming engineering sectors
We combine engineering expertise, management insight, and digital innovation to address systemic challenges in the built environment and other high-impact sectors.
Our interdisciplinary research drives improvements in project delivery, workplace well-being, infrastructure sustainability, and intelligent engineering systems.
In collaboration with industry, government, and academia, we co-create knowledge that informs policy and shapes practice - with international partnerships enhancing the reach and impact of our work. Through our teaching, we prepare future leaders to navigate complexity and drive positive change across diverse engineering contexts.
To shape the future of engineering, we must think beyond disciplines and across borders - connecting people, ideas, and technologies to create solutions that are not only innovative, but sustainable and human-centred.
Clara Cheung - Group Lead and Reader in Engineering Management
Research
Our areas of research
Digital transformation and integration
We're examining how digital technologies, such as AI, data analytics, and digital twins, are reshaping engineering and project management. We focus on the integration of these tools to improve decision-making, collaboration, and workflow efficiency. The research also investigates challenges related to data security, interoperability, and digital skills development.
By fostering organisational readiness and innovation, this theme supports smarter, more responsive, and sustainable project ecosystems.
Pedagogical practices in project studies
We are advancing education in project and engineering management through scholarship in practice-oriented pedagogy. We use experiential teaching, digital platforms and interdisciplinary teaching methods to better prepare students for complex real-world challenges. Our research spans curriculum development, assessment design, case studies, use of games and simulations, as well as bridges into professional practice.
Our work influences students, practitioners and international communities in management education. Our goal is to cultivate critical thinking , leadership and resilience in future project professionals.
Principles and practices of managing projects
Our research in this area focuses on exploring the principles and practices that drive successful project outcomes. This includes investigating how projects are planned, executed, and evaluated, emphasising key areas such as stakeholder engagement, risk management, agile methodologies, cost engineering and management, leadership and organisational issues, and communication.
Through empirical work and collaborations with industry and professional bodies, we aim to bridge the gap between theory and real-world application to uncover insights that improve project performance and behaviours, support the development of effective tools and frameworks, and equip future leaders with adaptable, globally relevant project capabilities.
Sustainability and circularity
We focus on reducing the environmental impact of the built environment by enhancing resource efficiency, reducing operational and embodied carbon emissions, implementing sustainable policies, designing out waste, promoting regenerative design, achieving reverse supply chain integration, and systemically adopting digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
Workplace health, safety, and well-being
We address occupational health and safety challenges in high-risk industries through data-informed, proactive, and inclusive approaches. Our research focuses on leading indicators, safety culture, AI-enabled systems, wearables, and human–robotic integration to anticipate risk and improve health and safety outcomes. We also examine mental health, work-life balance, and organisational well-being—recognising their importance in driving workforce resilience, operational performance, and policy development for safer, more equitable workplaces.
Study with us
Your career in engineering management starts here!
We are open to top applicants who want to pursue postgraduate study in engineering management:
Connect with us
Our people
- Mohammed Abadi - Lecturer in Management of Projects
- Elika Aminian - Lecturer in Management of Projects
- Paul Baguley - Lecturer in Engineering Management
- Clara Cheung - Reader in Engineering Management and Group Lead
- Helen Dobson - Senior Lecturer in Management of Projects
- Obuks Ejohwomu - Reader in Project Management
- Peter Fenn - Reader in Civil Engineering
- Callum Kidd - Professor of Engineering Management and Department Head of Civil Engineering and Management
- Richard Kirkham - Reader in Civil Engineering
- Rashid Maqbool - Lecturer in Management of Projects
- Reza Mohanedes - Lecturer in Civil Engineering and Management
- Kamal Qazi - Lecturer in Project Management
- Amir Rahbarimanesh - Lecturer in Engineering Project Management
- Ian Stewart - Reader in Management Education
- Kun Wang - Senior Lecturer in Project Management
- Jillian Yeow - Senior Lecturer in Management of Project
- Lihong Zhang - Lecturer in Project and Innovation Management
Get in touch
Contact our team
For business queries or research collaborations: clara.cheung@manchester.ac.uk
For general queries: hannah.davies-2@manchester.ac.uk