Sarah Penney

Sarah Penney is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Marketing and the Education Lead for the Marketing, International Business and Tourism (MIBT) Department at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Business School. She has led initiatives such as the Digital Marketing Degree Apprenticeship programme and managed the Agency Life internship programme, now evolved into RISE internships, to enhance student employability. Her academic roles include Programme Leader for the BSc Digital Marketing and Year Tutor for the Foundation Year in Business and Law. She actively bridges industry and academia through collaborations with experts to address the digital skills gap.

Her research focuses on pedagogical strategies in higher education, reducing attainment gaps, and the evolving digital marketing landscape. She teaches across multiple levels, including courses like Principles of Digital First Marketing, E-Commerce, and Digital Media Platforms. Additionally, she served as Copy Editor for the Grounded Theory Review (2013–14) and is a member of the Interaction Design Foundation.

Her professional service includes judging the CIM Northern Awards for Digital Marketing Campaigns (2016–17) and contributing to educational leadership roles such as MIBT Education Lead since 2023. Her work emphasizes practical, industry-aligned learning and equity in education access.