Dr Aqueel Wahga

Professional biography

I currently serve as Director of the MBA Programme and Director of the Centre for Social and Sustainable Enterprise (CSSE). Alongside, I am institutional champion for the Babson Collaborative.  

Research interests

My research interests broadly relate to entrepreneurship, sustainability, and enterprise education. I am interested in researching topics such as enterprise development, enterprise policy, innovation, dynamic capabilities of firms, growth dynamics of SMEs and entrepreneurial universities. I also like to engage with socio-economic and political issues. My current research looks into the processes that underpin the development of sustainability-oriented capabilities in SMEs, while also examining the environmental drivers and barriers in these firms. This research particularly investigates the role of intermediaries that act as proto-institutional sponsors/actors having the aim to institutionalise and advance environmental practices in SMEs of developing countries like Pakistan. The other research stream examines the entrepreneurial character of universities in emerging economies such as Pakistan and Kenya.

Teaching interests

I have multiple teaching interests ranging from entrepreneurship and enterprise policy and development to innovation, sustainability, business studies, business research methods, business ethics, microeconomics, and macroeconomics. I have been the Module Production Team Chair for B209 Entrepreneurship and Innovation and have chaired this module in presentation as well. I have led on updating Block 5 of B100 An Introduction to Business and Management. Moreover, I am member of Module Presentation Team of B327: Creating future: sustainable enterprise and innovation. I also acted as Innovation and Enterprise Pathway Qualification Lead finding and promoting innovative ways to advance entrepreneurship and enterprise teaching at undergraduate level in the Open University Business School. In my role as academic lead, I also look after our new and innovative programme - Business Export Exchange Programme (BEEP). 

Professional memberships:

• Fellow Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• Member, Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE)  
• Member, Sustainable Development Research Network (SDRN)
• Member, Zero Emissions Enterprise (ZEE) Network, UK
• Member, Case Centre, UK
• Member of AMBA
• Treasurer, Entrepreneurship SIG, British Academy of Management