Dr Manesha Peiris

Profile

I am a Senior Lecturer in Reflective Practice and Project Management at Queen Mary University of London, specialising in project management, information systems strategy, and systems analysis. With over 15 years of experience in higher education, I have worked extensively with both undergraduate and postgraduate learners in the UK and internationally. As a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), I am committed to enhancing teaching and learning practices, with a particular focus on fostering critical thinking, reflective practice, and student-centred learning. I am passionate about teaching and strive to create an engaging, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating environment for my students.

I have specialised in project management, information systems strategy, and systems analysis for over 15 years, with a rich background in digital learning. My expertise in these areas is complemented by my work on how technology enhances education and professional practice. My multi-disciplinary background has also enabled me to contribute to areas such as business management and business strategy. My teaching philosophy is informed by feminist pedagogy, with a strong emphasis on equality, diversity, and inclusion.

My research primarily examines technology adoption, the role of digital transformation in education, and how reflective practice can enhance the affective domain of learners. I am particularly interested in how individuals and organisations engage with emerging technologies and the implications for professional practice and learning environments.

In addition to my work on digital transformation, I have an extensive background in researching gender and entrepreneurship. My work in this area explores women’s entrepreneurial identities, structural barriers in the global South, and feminist perspectives on business practices. This research complements my broader interest in how technology and education shape professional and personal development.

I hold a PhD in Business Management from Queen Mary University of London, an MSc in Technology Management, and a BSc in Business Information Technology from the University  of Staffordshire. My interdisciplinary background informs my work on digital trust, online learning, and the evolving role of technology in education and project management.

Teaching

My teaching philosophy is rooted in feminist pedagogy and a commitment to inclusive, student-centred learning. I strive to create spaces, both in-person and online, where students feel seen, heard, and empowered to take ownership of their learning. I encourage collaboration, critical reflection, and the application of knowledge to real-world challenges, helping students connect theory with practice in meaningful ways.

 

Inclusivity and belonging are central to my approach. I design learning activities and assessments that reflect diverse perspectives and value different ways of knowing. This includes incorporating lived experience, cultural context, and underrepresented voices into the curriculum. My involvement in Queen Mary’s Step Ahead programme, which supports students from BTEC and ethnic minority backgrounds to thrive in higher education, has been a particularly rewarding extension of this work.

 

I am particularly interested in how inclusive pedagogies enhance student engagement and foster belonging. My teaching draws on real-world, culturally relevant examples and encourages critical engagement with complex social issues, empowering students to see their own experiences as valid contributions to academic learning.

 

As an educator, I am committed to continuous reflection and innovation in my teaching practice. I regularly seek feedback and adapt my methods to ensure that my teaching remains accessible, equitable, and responsive to students’ needs in an ever-evolving educational landscape.

Undergraduate Teaching

IOT450W - Reflective Practice for Technology Professionals

Research

Research Interests:

My research focuses on the intersection of education, technology, and gender. I explore how educational technologies can improve student engagement, particularly in post-pandemic learning environments. My work on technology acceptance helps explain how digital tools shape the way we teach and learn.

 

Alongside this, I have a strong interest in women’s entrepreneurship in the Global South. I examine how gender and cultural contexts influence entrepreneurial experiences and identities. I am also passionate about sustainable and inclusive education, and my recent work involves embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into curriculum design.

 

As an academic, I am committed to enhancing the student learning experience and contributing to research that supports more equitable and future-focused education systems.

 

Areas of Interest

Technology adoption

Online consumer behaviour

Management information systems

Systems design

Intersectionality, reflexivity, and feminist epistemologies

Gender and entrepreneurship

Publications

Book Chapters

1. Peiris, P. P. M. (2024). An intersectional study of women’s practice of entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka. Forson, C. (ed), Healy, G. (ed), Ozturk, M. (ed) and Tatli, A. (ed). In ELGAR HANDBOOK ON INEQUALITIES AT WORK.

 

Journal Publications

 

Scholarship

1. Peiris, P. P. M. (2024), Unravelling Educational System Complexities: A Teacher’s Insight into Technology Acceptance and Adoption during COVID-19 for Post-Pandemic Systemic Education, International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET).
2. Peiris, P. P. M., Tharindi, T., and Ferrazza, A., (2024), Enhancing Student Engagement in Remote Learning: Exploring the Acceptance of Educational Technology in Higher Education Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic, International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET)

 

Research

1. Peiris, P. P. M., (2024). Unpacking women entrepreneurs: A perspective from the Global South, Journal of Evolutionary Studies in Business.
2. Peiris, P. P. M., Tatli, A., Ozturk, M. (2023). Understanding women’s performance of entrepreneurship in the Sri Lankan context, International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship.
3. Peiris, P. P. M. and Kulkarni, D. (2015). An Empirical Study on Customers’ Adoption of E-commerce: A Customer Trust Model to Support the Adoption of E-commerce among SME in Sri Lanka, International Journal of Business and Information, 10(4), pp. 491-518.
4. Peiris, P. P. M. and Kulkarni, D. (2015). Implications of Trust and Usability on E-Commerce Adoption, International Journal of Business and Information, 10(4), pp. 519-556.