Monika Foster

Professor Monika Foster is a distinguished academic and administrator at Northumbria University, serving as Head of Newcastle Business School and Head of the Marketing, Operations and Systems Department. She holds a PhD in Business Studies from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and has over 30 years of experience in global higher education. Her research focuses on leadership, change management, internationalization of curricula, intercultural education, and student transitions. She has led major projects such as the QAA-funded study on international student transitions and authored the 2021 Routledge publication on intercultural pedagogy. Recognized nationally and internationally, she is a National Teaching Fellow, Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and Visiting Professor at Shandong University of Finance, China. She has advised on national policies through roles in Chartered ABS committees and HEA initiatives.

Educational Qualifications: PhD in Business Studies (Adam Mickiewicz University, 1999), PGDip in Management and Operations (Academy of Physical Education Poznan), MA in Linguistic and Cultural Awareness (Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland).

Research Interests: Leadership development, employability strategies, international student mobility, curriculum internationalization, cross-cultural learning, and sustainable education practices aligned with UN SDGs. She has pioneered frameworks for intercultural learner relationships and contributed to operational excellence methodologies in logistics and service sectors.

Recent Work: Over 26 publications including studies on lean implementation frameworks, cybercrime resilience in finance, and integration of Industry 4.0 with Lean Six Sigma. Active in collaborative research across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Leads the Research Centre for Management Learning and Business Education, focusing on pedagogical innovation and academic transitions.

Awards: Recipient of National Teaching Fellowship (2023), Chartered ABS CMBE certification, and numerous grants for curriculum development projects. Her work bridges academic leadership with practical solutions for global education challenges.