Rose Byrne

Rose Byrne is the Lecturer of Practice – Engineering Management [Education] in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Queen's University Belfast. With a keen focus on meeting AHEP4 learning outcomes, she has current teaching interests in transversal skills to include sustainable development. Prior to joining the School, Rose was Academic Manager for the International Year One programme in Management, Finance & Accounting at QUB International Study Centre, which specialises in providing pathway programmes for international students.  Rose’s teaching experience includes twelve years there, teaching across dedicated finance modules at both stage one and post-graduate levels.

Her research interests lie with Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) where she will be exploring learning & teaching methods and practices alongside alternative assessment strategies that embed sustainability into the curriculum. 

Prior to commencing a career in academia, Rose worked in financial services for twenty years, latterly as a senior manager in the insurance sector. She is also a former manufacturing entrepreneur, having brought her ‘Puro’ brand of smoothie drinks to market and winning Northern Ireland Business of the Year – 2007 (runner-up for all Ireland). 

• MEE2005 Professional Studies 2
• MEE3002 Professional Studies 3
• MEE7032 Engineering Management (postgraduate)
• MEE3030 BEng Project
• MEE4040 MEng Project
• MEE7012 MSc Project

• Module coordinator MEE2005; MEE3002; MEE7032
• Stage 4 Advisor of Studies (2025-current)
• Personal Tutor (2025-current)
• Member of School Education Board
• Engineering Leadership Programme Coordinator (2025-current)
• Industrial Advisory Forum

Engineering education scholarship interests:

• Active and interactive learning
• Student engagement
• Transversal skills
• Sustainable development
• Innovative assessment
• Graduate competencies

Motivating and empowering graduates to a call for action in sustainable development will require a shift in societal attitudes and associated behaviours/actions. Having commenced PhD study, her research goals include identifying educational strategies to nurture a sustainable mindset whilst developing critical skills and competencies of engineers who will lead the transition to a circular economy. 

Rose demonstrates consistent performance in regulatory governance having held several public appointments.  She has served seven years as an Independent Assessor for the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland, ensuring fair and transparent recruitment processes.  Rose previously served eight years on the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (four years as Chair of Finance).  She is currently a Governing Body member of Belfast Metropolitan College, sitting on Audit & Risk and Human Resources Committees.