Dr. Barbara Waters

Biography

Barbara Waters is a Senior Lecturer in Fashion Business at the University of Manchester, where she serves as Programme Director for Fashion Business & Technology Undergraduate Studies. With thirty years of experience in higher education, she has held various academic leadership positions, including Programme Leader for the BA Fashion Marketing programme at the University of Leeds and Principal Lecturer/Head of Engineering at the University of Bolton. Her academic journey includes the recent completion of a part-time PhD, which investigated the use of fashion brand names in British chick lit, blending her interests in popular fiction and fashion marketing. Her scholarly interests focus on enhancing teaching and learning, as well as student experience, aligning with professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Textile Institute. Furthermore, Barbara acts as an external examiner for fashion business courses at several UK universities, ensuring her teaching remains relevant and informed by current industry practices. She is passionate about quality education and has contributed to the planning and delivery of the University of Manchester’s annual Teaching & Learning Conference. Additionally, she mentors new staff and engages in continuing professional development to keep her teaching methods innovative and impactful.

Research Interests