Martin Hughes

Lecturer in Business Information Systems

J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, University of Galway

white clouds and blue skies
Martin Hughes

Martin is an educator who has integrated the Sustainable Development Goals in his work for many years. This began when he started to introduce information about the SDGs in his lectures; he also includes a focus on SDGs in group assignments from first year, including a learning outcome that explores how information systems can impact sustainability. Martin's teaching continues to support the SDGs through the final-year business information system projects and modules, and in the MBA programme. Information systems is all about getting the most from limited resources and sustainability sits well in this context.

Director of the Master's of Business Studies (MBA) September 2015 to Jan 2022. Driven by an ambition to provide an MBA experience consistent with the University of Galway’s ranking as a top 2% university, during that time Martin led three successful re-accreditations (Jan. 2016, 2019 and 2023) with the Association for MBAs (AMBA).

Martin's work contributes to these SDGs

SDG 4,8,9,10,16,17

Martin has 20 years of experience teaching across undergraduate, postgraduate, MBA and Exec Development.  In that time, he has also been a programme director for over 11 years, including six for the BSc BIS and five for the MBA. Most teaching is classroom-based but Martin also has significant blended learning and online teaching experience. Martin has a strong pedigree of innovation in teaching and developing bespoke modules.

Key Target: 4.4 Increase the number of people with relevant skills for financial success

Martin has been nominated for numerous teaching and inclusion awards.

SDG 4

Teaching

Lean Principles for the IS Professional is designed as a capstone module for final-year BSc BIS students. This module is specifically focused on empowering students to become agents for change, immediately and throughout their career. Based on a highly interactive mode of delivery and exploratory pedagogical design, participants engage in an active learning experience that is characterised by personal engagement, reflection, learning and growth.

Supporting Target: 4.7 Education for sustainable development and global citizenship

Introduction to Business Information Systems The aim is to provide participants with a broad understanding of the fundamental roles, applied impact and strategic importance of information systems (IS) for individuals, for enterprise, for societies and for global sustainability.

Supporting Targets: 9.5 Enhance research and upgrade industrial technologies; 11.B Implement policies for inclusion, resource efficiency and disaster risk reduction; 12.0; 13.3 Build knowledge and capacity to meet climate change

Systems for Team Empowerment is an MBA module that follows a pedagogical design blending academic theory, active learning, participant experience, industry interaction and action research into an intensive and immersive learning experience. A core element of the module utilises the LEGO Serious Play methodology to enable participants to visualise, model and narrate their own understanding of the rich and dynamic interplay of systems, teams and empowerment. The module also incorporates a research workshop, a company-hosted industry seminar and multiple field sites or guest speakers. Following the instructional components participants engage in a guided research process.

Supporting Targets: 4.4 Increase the number of people with relevant skills for financial success, 4.7 Education for sustainable development and global citizenship

Engagement

Martin has been an invited speaker at BioInnovate, known for unparalleled access to Ireland's leading academic researchers, clinicians and industry experts, while the activity is underpinned by world-class facilities available through the support network. BioInnovate offers two core programmes of activity:­ the Fellowship Programme and the Industry Training Workshops.

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Photo by Crew on Unsplash

Photo by Crew on Unsplash

Direct impact SDG Targets

4.4 - Increase the number of people with relevant skills for financial success

4.7 - Education for sustainable development and global citizenship

8.2 - Diversify, innovate and upgrade for economic productivity

8.6 - Promote youth employment, education and training

9.5 - Enhance research and upgrade industrial technologies

10.2 - Promote universal social, economic and political inclusion

16.7 - Ensure responsive, inclusive and representative decision-making

17.6 - Knowledge sharing and cooperation for access to science, technology and innovation

SDG wheel
ASQ EMEA seminar poster

IASQ EMEA Network Webinar: Building Leadership in the Next Generation of Quality Professionals and Women in Quality.

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Research

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Photo by Daniel Zbroja on Unsplash

Photo by Daniel Zbroja on Unsplash

Featured Publications

References

SDGs

Acton, T., Datta, P. M. and Hughes, M. (2022). Phantom or Menace: User Behaviors in Cybersecurity. 2022 Cyber Research Conference - Ireland, Cyber-RCI 2022.

3.D; 8.3; 9

Hughes, M. (2020). Systems for Team Empowerment: Research on Practice 2020. Galway: University of Galway.

9.0, 9.5; 8, 8.1, 8.3

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