Dr Rupesh Shah

Professional biography

Professional biography

Dr Rupesh Shah is Staff Tutor in Engineering and Innovation at the Open University. 

Rupesh has supported learning about systems thinking at the OU for over 15 years; initially as a research fellow on the PersSyst Project  and then as an Associate Lecturer on an undergraduate and postgraduate modules in systems thinking.  

Rupesh recieved his BSc (Hons) from the University of Bath in Business Administration in 1997. He gained his PhD from the University of Bath in the Centre for Action Research in Professional Practice in the School of Management.  Rupesh has worked as a participatory development practitioner and community educator, in a range of interrnational and local projects in the UK, India, Argentina and Nigeria.  

Research interests

Curret research interests include developing capability in systems thinking in practice, text-based inquiry in critcal management practice, systems thinking in environment and in community health development.  Previous research includes work on 

• NGO-business collaboration and sustainable development
• inter-organisational learning and development for climate adaptation
• the challenges of corporate responsibility movement
• late diagnosis of cancer in East London
• community engagement for genetics and health studies

Teaching interests

In his role as a staff tutor, Rupesh manages teams Associate Lecturers in Environment and in Systems Thinking. He has worked as an author and critical reviewer for two new modules in Systems Thinking in Practice. Rupesh developed the 'People Stream' for TB871, Making strategy with systems thinking in practiceto bring more relevance to the challenges of developing systems thinking in practice capability.  Rupesh is also chair the of the third level Environmental Management module, T319.