Dr Julie McFarlane

Teaching
Research

Extensive teaching experience across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in enterprise, business, and management.

Responsible for the design and delivery of modules, assessment development, marking, and moderation, with a focus on applied and experiential learning approaches.

Committed to supporting student progression and achievement through inclusive teaching practices, research supervision, and academic mentoring.

Experience includes large-cohort teaching, programme coordination, and the integration of enterprise education into curricula.

Interests

Research interests centre on enterprise education, applied learning, and the development of entrepreneurial capabilities within higher education.

Recent work has increasingly focused on the role of context in entrepreneurship, particularly the dynamic relationship between the individual (person) and the entrepreneurial process. This includes exploring how entrepreneurial behaviour and decision-making are shaped by educational, institutional, and practice-based environments.

Additional interests include commercialisation pathways, knowledge exchange, and the role of education in supporting innovation and venture development.

Overall focus on the intersection of teaching practice, enterprise development, and impact-led education.

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Funding

Secured and contributed to externally funded research and knowledge exchange activity across enterprise, innovation, and commercialisation.

This includes Innovate UK funding (£146,274 and £217,000) for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), delivered as Principal Investigator, supporting industry collaboration, business model development, and innovation outcomes.

Awarded Scottish Research and Innovation (SRI) funding (£27,000 × 2) for knowledge exchange projects focused on SME capability development and market repositioning.

More recent funding includes £50,000 ESRC Impact Acceleration Account funding and £30,000 Innovate UK ICURe funding (2024) to support the commercialisation of university-based technology spin-outs.

Additional funding includes earlier research and doctoral support, including scholarship funding and project-based awards.

Funding activity demonstrates sustained engagement in externally funded research, commercialisation, and knowledge exchange aligned with academic and industry collaboration.

Esteem

Employment History

Lecturer

Organisation: Abertay University
Dates: Feb 2026 – Present

Description: Lecturer responsible for the design and delivery of teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Duties include assessment design, marking and moderation, and supporting student progression. Active contributor to Subject and Programme Assessment Boards, ensuring decisions align with academic regulations and quality assurance frameworks. Engagement with external examiner processes and institutional assessment systems to maintain academic standards.

Education Mentor (ICURe Programme)

Organisation: Innovate UK ICURe
Dates: Oct 2025 – Present

Description: Education mentor supporting early-stage research commercialisation through the ICURe Discover programme.

Provides coaching and mentoring to researchers and early-stage ventures, supporting the development of business models, value propositions, and pathways to commercialisation. Contributes to enterprise education and knowledge exchange activity.

Founder

Organisation: Academy of Enterprise Education
Dates: Mar 2021 – Present

Description: Founder of the Academy of Enterprise Education, established to provide accessible, practical and applied learning for adult learners and professionals.

Led the development of accredited and certified pathway programmes supporting career transition, entrepreneurship, and skills development. Oversees curriculum design, delivery, and business operations, integrating academic expertise with applied enterprise practice.

Adjunct Supervisor

Organisation: University of Stirling
Dates: Nov 2020 – Sep 2024

Description: Provided supervision and academic support to students, contributing to teaching and assessment processes.

Supported student research development, dissertation work, and academic progression within higher education programmes.

Programme Development (Consultancy)

Organisation: Zoom Abroad
Dates: Nov 2022 – Dec 2023

Description: Developed and designed educational programmes supporting international and online learning delivery.

Contributed to curriculum development, teaching design, and marketing alignment to support learner engagement and programme growth.

Enterprise Development Coach

Organisation: The Practical Enterprise Academy
Dates: Sep 2020 – Nov 2021

Description: Delivered enterprise coaching and mentoring, supporting individuals in developing business ideas and entrepreneurial skills.

Undertook needs analysis and provided structured guidance on business development, communication, and strategy.

Director of Learning

Organisation: University of Strathclyde
Dates: May 2019 – Nov 2020

Description: Led learning and teaching strategy and programme development within the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship.

Key responsibilities included:

Strategic oversight of teaching and learning provision
Leadership of large-scale programmes (1800+ students)
Development of training programmes for PhD and enterprise teaching staff
Oversight of student experience review processes (UG and PG)
Programme leadership and course coordination across postgraduate and undergraduate modules
Supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations

Contributed to institutional initiatives including SDG working groups and curriculum development aligned with enterprise education.

Teaching Associate / Academic Roles

Organisation: University of Strathclyde
Dates: Sep 2018 – Nov 2020

Description: Delivered teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including module coordination, curriculum delivery, and assessment design.

Responsibilities included course coordination, student supervision, and contribution to programme delivery within enterprise and business education.

Assistant Professor

Organisation: Heriot-Watt University
Dates: Sep 2013 – Nov 2020

Description: Academic role involving teaching, programme leadership, and supervision across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels.

Key contributions included:

Programme Director for eight MSc programmes across 49 partners in leadership, operations, and project management
Coordination and development of postgraduate and undergraduate courses
Design of applied learning experiences including enterprise-based modules
Supervision of undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students
Leadership of international and Erasmus Mundus programmes across 12countries

Contributed to curriculum development and academic governance within business and management disciplines.

Strategic Business Development Consultant

Organisation: NPL Group
Dates: May 2016 – Aug 2016

Description: Consultancy role focused on organisational strategy and business model development.

Conducted analysis of business units and project pipelines, and supported the redesign of organisational strategy and marketing materials to align with future growth objectives.

Enterprise Programme Coordinator

Organisation: Informatics Ventures / University of Edinburgh
Dates: Sep 2012 – Sep 2014

Description: Coordinated enterprise education programmes including the Scottish School for Entrepreneurs and School for Female Entrepreneurs.

Supported delivery of workshops for early-stage entrepreneurs, enabling development of business propositions and supporting outcomes including partnerships, investment, and venture growth.

PhD Doctoral Researcher

Organisation: University of Strathclyde
Dates: Nov 2007 – May 2013

Description: Undertook doctoral research alongside teaching and academic development activities.

Gained experience in teaching, research, and academic practice, contributing to knowledge development within the discipline.

Recognition through sustained contribution to enterprise education, research, and knowledge exchange across academic and applied contexts.

Esteem indicators include appointment as an Education Mentor within the Innovate UK ICURe programme, membership of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Women and Enterprise, and award-winning enterprise activity, including recognition through small business and enterprise awards.

Invited speaker at a range of national and international institutions and events, including contributions to entrepreneurship and enterprise forums at universities such as Warwick, Nottingham, Strathclyde, and the Technical University of Munich, alongside sector-focused events such as the Evolve Conference and Help to Grow alumni network.

Active contribution to the academic community through journal reviewing, conference track leadership (formerly for ISBE), and external roles including programme review and external examining.

Professional recognition is further reflected through fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and accreditation with international coaching bodies (ICF, EMCC, IAPC&M).

Collectively, these activities demonstrate peer recognition, sector influence, and contribution to academic, professional, and enterprise practice.

Knowledge Exchange

Strong engagement in knowledge exchange through enterprise education, mentoring, consultancy, and externally funded innovation activity. Current activity includes serving as an Education Mentor within the Innovate UK ICURe programme, supporting early-stage research commercialisation, business model development, and value proposition development for emerging ventures.

Experience includes delivery of two Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) and Scottish Research and Innovation (SRI) projects, working in partnership with external organisations to translate research into applied outcomes and support innovation and organisational development.

Additional knowledge exchange activity includes programme development consultancy, enterprise coaching, and founding the Academy of Enterprise Education, which delivers practical, accessible learning for adults and professionals. This work reflects a sustained commitment to collaboration between academia, enterprise, and external stakeholders.

Outreach

Outreach activity has focused on supporting access to enterprise education, entrepreneurial capability development, and practical learning opportunities for diverse learner groups.

Experience includes delivery of workshops, mentoring, and educational programmes for early-stage entrepreneurs, professionals, and individuals engaged in career transition or business development, including work with Young Enterprise Scotland.

Outreach contributions also include mentoring within the Innovate UK ICURe programme, supporting researchers and early-stage ventures in developing commercialisation pathways.

Additional activity has included international and online learning delivery, and the design of accessible, applied learning pathways that broaden participation in enterprise and professional development education.

Leadership, Management and Administrative Roles / Experience

Extensive leadership and management experience across higher education, enterprise education, and externally funded innovation activity.

Served as Director of Learning at the University of Strathclyde, with strategic oversight of learning and teaching provision within the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, including leadership of the SBS Management Development Programme for Years 1–3, supporting thousands of students. Responsibilities included curriculum development, staff development, student experience review processes, supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations, and contribution to institutional initiatives such as the SDG Working Group.

Held significant programme leadership responsibilities at Heriot-Watt University, including Programme Director for seven postgraduate programmes within the Leadership and Organisational Performance/MSc suite, and Deputy Director of one MSc programme in International Business and Marketing with Finance. These responsibilities involved programme design, delivery, recruitment, selection, accreditation, and academic governance across multiple cohorts and international delivery contexts.

In addition, served as Director of Erasmus Mundus programmes for the MSc in Strategic Programme Management (European) and the International MSc in Industrial Management, working in collaboration with Erasmus and EU consortium partners across four partner countries: Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Germany. This role required coordination of programme design, delivery, student recruitment and selection, partner liaison, and oversight of student placements with industry partners.

Wider leadership experience includes course coordination across undergraduate and postgraduate provision, supervision of student research at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral level, and responsibility for aligning materials, assessments, and examinations across Edinburgh, Dubai, Malaysia, and 49 global learning partners.

Additional leadership activity includes development of the Doctoral Teacher Training Programme and oversight of teaching and learning strategy review and redesign, as well as the founding and direction of the Academy of Enterprise Education, including oversight of curriculum design, delivery, business operations, and accredited pathway development.

Leadership and management experience is further demonstrated through consultancy and project leadership in enterprise, coaching, and knowledge exchange contexts, including funded innovation projects and external programme delivery.