Rayan Merkbawi

Rayan Merkbawi is a Lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) within the Management Discipline Group, part of the Management Discipline School at UTS Business School. She specializes in organizational studies, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and social impact, with a focus on education, social equity, business ethics, and gender work outcomes. Merkbawi holds a PhD in Business from UTS (2017–2021) and a Master’s degree from Macquarie University (2015). She is fluent in English and Arabic.

Roles and Affiliations:

• Faculty Coordinator for U@uni Academy (2022–2024)
• Member of the Faculty Research Ethics Panel (2024–present)

Research Interests:

Merkbawi bridges theoretical concepts with real-world applications, emphasizing technology’s role in social change through her TEDx talk on 'The Digital Evolution: Bridging Technology with Human Values.' Her work explores digital platforms’ potential to amplify social movements and youth voices. Key themes include political CSR in confessional democracies, immigrant families’ barriers to higher education, and gender equity in the workplace.

Grants and Contributions:

• Empowering Women to Advance in Career Paths Through Training (2024)
• Impact of Immigrant Parents' Perceived Challenges on Children’s University Enrollment (2023–2024)
• Social Norms and Misperceptions on Muslim Women’s Work Outcomes (2023)

Teaching:

Merkbawi develops and teaches courses such as 'Business and Social Impact,' 'Socio-Political Context of Management,' and 'Understanding Theories,' fostering critical thinking on contemporary societal challenges.