Dr Matt Offord
- Senior Lecturer in Experiential Leadership Education (Management)
telephone:
0141 330 3680
email:
Matt.Offord@glasgow.ac.uk
Biography
Matt teaches leadership and management through experiential methods, in short learning by doing. The main method of doing this is through 'ecopedagogy' which focuses on sustainable and responsible leadership by experiencing the impact of business decisions in the real world. Matt's lectures often involve an element of outdoor learning where students are encouraged to look again at familiar spaces and the built environment. Additionally, Matt is a business simulation game instructor using various simulations and educational escape rooms to bring management and leadership theory to life.
Matt is a former naval officer and freelance management consultant, entering academia in 2019. His experience of agile teamwork in a technology driven and dynamic environment is at the heart of his mission to prepare students for the modern workplace. Matt is Senior Fellow of Recogniding Excellence in Teaching and a Certified Management and Business Educator.
Research interests
Matt is a member of the School's Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour research cluster.
Matt conducted a study of prestige networks in Royal Navy warships in 2019. Following on from this cultural evolution study, Matt published an exploration of academics' use of imitation as a response to the Covid-19 lockdowns using cultural phylogenetics in 2023, he continues to be interested in imitation and prestige in social studies. The evolution of social networks remains a key interest and also informs Matt's interest in Postdigital Ecopedagogy as both a teaching practice and also as a focus for disciplinary research
His specific interests are:
- Postdigital ecopedagogy
- Ecopedgogy
- Imitation
- Prestige
- Social Networks
Grants
Grant | Description |
Amount |
---|---|---|
Innovation Audit 2024 | Funding for the development and commercialisation of educational escape rooms for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training in the maritime industry | £5000 |
Chancellor's Fund 2023 - 2025 | The Ecopedagogy Teaching Project: Creating Sustainable and Affordable Impact for Future-Oriented Leaders | £1500 |
Aspect Innovation Fellowship 2023 | Development and evaluation of escape room games for teaching in maritime education | £8000 |
ASBS Research Reinvigoration Fund 2022 | Research into free-riding in group work in business educaiton |
£2000 |
Supervision
Matt is interested in supervising in the following fields:
- Ecopedagogy
- Postdigital Ecopedagogy
- Experiential Learning Theory
- Outdoor Learning
- Agent Based Models in teaching
- Business simulation games
- Digital business education
- Pedagogy of simulation
- Sociocultural evolution in the leadership studies field
- Mazid, Tasfia
The Role of Paradoxical Leadership in Influencing Followers to Deal with Multiple Contradictory Demands'
Matt currently supervises three PhD students studying paradoxical leadership, post-heroic leadership and emotional intelligence. Matt has also supervised undergraduate Business & Management students and MBA students.
Teaching
Matt is a Senior Fellow of Recognising Excellence in Teaching (RET) and Certified Management and Business Educator (CMBE). He is the School academic lead for Technology Enhanced Learning and Teaching (TELT) and AI. As an Associate Director of Learning and Teaching, with a focus on scholarship, Matt supports other teaching focused academics to publicise their work and develop teaching focused careers. He also mentors early career learning and teaching academics and PhD tutors.
Matt specialises in the use of experiential learning theory in outdoor learning, serious games, simulations and case teaching. He teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and has delivered executive education around the world. Matt has published research on the use of educational escape rooms and also works with business partners to use escape rooms in learning development programmes.
Interests:
- Ecopedagogy
- Postdigital Ecopedagogy
- Experiential Learning Theory
- Outdoor Learning
- Serious Games
- Business Simulation Games
- Digital Educational Escape Rooms
Professional activities & recognition
Prizes, awards & distinctions
- 2024: Shortlisted for the Best Innovation Strategy Award (Association of MBAs and Business Graduates)
- 2023: Shortlisted for the Innovation in Business Education Award 2023 by QS Reimagine Education 10th Anniversary Edition (QS)
- 2023: Distinction in MSc (Digital Education) (University of Edinburgh)
- 2021: Distinction in Post Graduate Certificate of Academic Practice (University of Glasgow)
Research fellowships
- 2023 - 2023: Aspect Innovation Fellow
- 2016 - 2017: RN Hudson Fellow (Oxford University)
- 2010 - 2017: RN Defence Fellow
Editorial boards
- 2022 - 2023: Continuity and Resilience Review (Special Edition)
Professional & learned societies
- 2023: Member, British Academy of Management
- 2022: Senior Fellow, Recognising Excellence in Teaching (RET)
- 2020: Certified Management and Business Educator, Chartered Association of Business Schools
- 2017 - 2024: Fellow, The Institute of Leadership
Selected international presentations
- 2022: 27th International Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium (Quebec City)
Additional information
Matt was shortlisted for the Best Innovation Strategy Award 2024 at the Association of MBA & Business Graduates Association Excellence Awards for the Futures In Leadership Course (4th Year Honours - Business and Management)
Matt was also instrumental in Adam Smith Business School being shortlisted for the Innovation in Business Education Award by QS Reimagine Education in 2023