Full Member of Research Centre: Salford Centre for Research and Innovation (SCRI)
From April 1994 to present.
Associate Member of Research Centre: Centre for Social Research
From January 2010 to present.
Prof James A Powell
 | Professor of Academic Enterprise , Room 415, The Maxwell Building, University of Salford, 43, The Crescent, Greater Manchester, M5 4WT . |
 | j.a.powell@salford.ac.uk |
 | 0161 295 5464 |
Key Memberships
Profile Summary
James Powell is presently on a sabbatical for 2010 having retired from his role as Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic Enterprise) undertaking a series of Research and Enterprise project leading to the writing of three Books: UNiversities for a Modern Renaissance', Leadership of University Outreach and UPBEAT. He has recently been appointed Ambassador for Social Entreprenurship in Higher Education by HEFCE and UnLtd.
He is presently working on a range of research, development, innovation and academic enterprise projects which emanate from his successful time in Academic Enterprise at Salford University and also as a result of his pioneering ‘Smart City Futures’ conference, held in the Lowry Centre 2009; the latter uniquely involved the local communities and small businesses in a highly interactive mode empowering citizens to undertake key developments in conjunction with the Greater Manchester Universities. He is also presently developing his notion of ‘Universities for a Modern Renaissance’ for, and with, the Board Members of the PASCAL International Observatory for place management, social capital and learning regions; this idea will be used to focus their developing strategy for university engagement. The notion will also form the basis for a new book he is writing for the publisher Routledge. Other developing projects presently include:
- A global study of the leadership, governance and management of senior academic entrepreneurs in their development of higher academic enterprise, or what others refer to as University Reach-out or the ‘third mission’; this is based on funded HEFCE and CIHE study of 16 exemplary British leaders and will explore successful other academic leaders from other cultures, including in Canada, USA, Australia, Hungary, Holland, Japan, Turkey and Norway.
- The evaluation and implementation of a portfolio of postgraduate and industry based ‘knowledge transfer programmes’ for the Government of the Czech Republic based on his pioneering and successful implementation for SERC/EPSRC/DTI of the Teaching Company Scheme 9now known as ‘Knowledge Transfer Partnerships’ and the Engineering Doctoral programme.
- A structured evaluation, open learning and coaching framework to drive traditional academics to become more enterprising; known as UPBEAT or the University Partnership for Benchmarking Enterprise and Associated Technologies, it has proved successful in the evaluation of over 200 exemplary British and European Reach-out projects. He is now simplifying the process and producing open educational material to help academics across the globe in the context of improving:
- Affordable and sustainable housing development based upon collaborative research within the Salford Construction Research and Innovation Initiative and his pioneering R&D with Salford University’s Community Finance Solutions on ‘Community Land Trusts’.
- The development of ‘Community Reporters’ in a programme known as ‘Reuters in the Community’ with colleagues on the Board of ‘Peoples’ Voice Media; this presently resides within the Salford Innovation Forum – the building he conceived of, gain funding to develop, and stage managed into a successful existence as a partnership between the University and other partners in Salford including: the City itself, the New Deal for Communities, the Community, local businesses, local scho
Key Qualifications
2002
DSc Academic Enterprise (from Salford University).
1996
OBE for services to science and engineering education (from British Empire).
1974
PhD Psychophysiology of Aural Perception (from Salford University).
Undertaken in the School of Acoustics on ICI Fellowhip
1969
MSc Industrial Design Technology (from AUMIST).
1968
BSc (1st Honours) Building Science (from Manchester University).
Key Projects
2007
Aug
SURegen - Integrated Decision Support System for Sustainable Urban Regeneration
EPSRC, £2,311,086.98.
Principal Investigator: S Curwell (35%). Co-Investigators: R Knowles (2%), A Marshall-Ponting (16%), M Kagioglou (1%), M Ormerod (1%), A Hamilton (35%), P James (2%), J Powell (1%), Y Arayici (6%), S Marvin (1%).
EPSRC, £2,311,086.98.
Principal Investigator: S Curwell (35%). Co-Investigators: R Knowles (2%), A Marshall-Ponting (16%), M Kagioglou (1%), M Ormerod (1%), A Hamilton (35%), P James (2%), J Powell (1%), Y Arayici (6%), S Marvin (1%).
2007
Mar
The challenge of learning from what works in the development of sustainable communities: closing the skills gap by raising competencies
ESRC, £33,292.00.
Investigators: J Powell (30%), S Curwell (70%).
ESRC, £33,292.00.
Investigators: J Powell (30%), S Curwell (70%).
2006
Mar
Salford IMRC Renewal
EPSRC, £4,866,537.39.
Principal Investigator: G Aouad (10%). Co-Investigators: P Barrett (10%), P McDermott (7%), C Abbott (10%), Y Rezgui (7%), G Cooper (7%), J Powell (7%), L Ruddock (7%), M Kagioglou (10%), L Koskela (7%), P Sterry (7%), V Ahmed (7%), M Sexton (7%).
EPSRC, £4,866,537.39.
Principal Investigator: G Aouad (10%). Co-Investigators: P Barrett (10%), P McDermott (7%), C Abbott (10%), Y Rezgui (7%), G Cooper (7%), J Powell (7%), L Ruddock (7%), M Kagioglou (10%), L Koskela (7%), P Sterry (7%), V Ahmed (7%), M Sexton (7%).
2000
Oct
Network for the integration of design and construction to foster innovation in the construction industry supply chain
EPSRC, £62,485.00.
Investigators: J Powell (50%), D Lenard (50%).
EPSRC, £62,485.00.
Investigators: J Powell (50%), D Lenard (50%).
Key Publications
Key Presence
Conference Presentations
2012
A New way of Working: The Future of Construction Conference, Scandic Crown Hotel, 15th-16th January, 1996.
A New way of Working: The Future of Construction Conference, Scandic Crown Hotel, 15th-16th January, 1996.
2008
May
'AN UPBEAT Approach to stimulating Enhanced Social and Community Enterprise'. (The Innovation Summit - The International Business University Forum of Japan, Tokyo and Nagata, Japan, May 2008).
2008
Mar
Developing Cost Effective Mid-Career Learnign Support for Construction (BEAR Conference 2008, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka, March 2008).
2003
Developing Entrepreneurs in SMEs - Towards a Theory of Consilient Learning?, (with J. Davies, J. Sharp) 13th Annual Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Conference, Research Paradigms in Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Unviersity of Surrey, Guildford. (United Kingdom, 2003)
Developing Entrepreneurs in SMEs - Towards a Theory of Consilient Learning?, (with J. Davies, J. Sharp) 13th Annual Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Conference, Research Paradigms in Entrepreneurship and Small Busin... more >>.
2003
A consilient approach to management learning and developmetn in construction, (with E. Lentleme, A. Williams), CIB W89 International Confernece on Building Education and Research (2003)
A consilient approach to management learning and developmetn in construction, (with E. Lentleme, A. Williams), CIB W89 International Confernece on Building Education and Research
2002
Defining the development needs of Entrepreneurs in SMEs, (with J, Davies, M. Hides), Small Business Conference, Brighton. (United Kingdom, 2002)
Defining the development needs of Entrepreneurs in SMEs, (with J, Davies, M. Hides), Small Business Conference, Brighton.
2002
Defining the Development Needs of Entrepreneurs in SMEs, (with M. Hides, J, Davies), 12th Annual Small Business and Enterprise Development Conference, University of Nottingham. (United Kingdom, 2002)
Defining the Development Needs of Entrepreneurs in SMEs, (with M. Hides, J, Davies), 12th Annual Small Business and Enterprise Development Conference, University of Nottingham.
2001
Reduction of Cycle Time Through Smaller Batch Sizes in Brazilian and English Construction Sites, (with Santos, A), CIB World Building Congress, Wellington. (New Zealand, 2001)
Reduction of Cycle Time Through Smaller Batch Sizes in Brazilian and English Construction Sites, (with Santos, A), CIB World Building Congress, Wellington.
2001
Emergence of the Authentic Presence: The Role of Action Learning in Reaching the Self, (with Caroline Davey, Pam, Day, Jennifer Powell, Robert Day, I, Cooper), International Confernce on Problems of Individual Emergence. (Netherlands, 2001)
Emergence of the Authentic Presence: The Role of Action Learning in Reaching the Self, (with Caroline Davey, Pam, Day, Jennifer Powell, Robert Day, I, Cooper), International Confernce on Problems of Individual Emergence.
2000
Oct
Achieving Cultural Change: Embedding Academic Enterprise - Case Study. Paper presented to the IMHE Conference, Beyond the Entrepreneurial University? Global Challenges and Insitutioanl Responses, OECD, Paris, 11th - 13th September 2000 and extended in March 2001. (France, October, 2000)
Achieving Cultural Change: Embedding Academic Enterprise - Case Study. Paper presented to the IMHE Conference, Beyond the Entrepreneurial University? Global Challenges and Insitutioanl Responses, OECD, Paris, 11th - 13th Septembe... more >>.
2000
Reduction fo Work-in-Progress in teh Construction Environment, (with Santos, A, and Sarshar, M), VIII IGLC Conference, University of Sussex, Brighton. (United Kingdom, 2000)
Reduction fo Work-in-Progress in teh Construction Environment, (with Santos, A, and Sarshar, M), VIII IGLC Conference, University of Sussex, Brighton.
1999
Assessment of the current of four lean principles in construction processes (with Santos A), VII IGLC, Berkley. (United States, 1999)
Assessment of the current of four lean principles in construction processes (with Santos A), VII IGLC, Berkley.
1999
The use of poka-yoke devices in the construction industry, (with Santos, A.), Seventh Conference on Lean Construction, VII IGLC, Berkley. (United States, 1999)
The use of poka-yoke devices in the construction industry, (with Santos, A.), Seventh Conference on Lean Construction, VII IGLC, Berkley.
1998
The principle of transparency applied in the construction industry, Sixth Conference on Lean Construction, 6IGLC, Guaruja. (with Formoso, Carlos Torres, Santos, A, Sharp J.) (1998)
The principle of transparency applied in the construction industry, Sixth Conference on Lean Construction, 6IGLC, Guaruja. (with Formoso, Carlos Torres, Santos, A, Sharp J.)
1998
In search for bet practice in construction: incras of process transparency (with Santos, A), Bizarre Fruit Conference, Unviersity of Salford. (United Kingdom, 1998)
In search for bet practice in construction: incras of process transparency (with Santos, A), Bizarre Fruit Conference, Unviersity of Salford.
1995
Oct
The Human Implications of the Internet - Short Term Gloom, Long Term Boon, at the Internet for Civil Engineering Conference. ICE. (United Kingdom, October, 1995)
The Human Implications of the Internet - Short Term Gloom, Long Term Boon, at the Internet for Civil Engineering Conference. ICE.
1995
Jun
Creating a Learning Cultrue for Innovation in Cosntruction, at the Time for Real Imprvoement Confernece, QEII Centre. (United Kingdom, June, 1995)
Creating a Learning Cultrue for Innovation in Cosntruction, at the Time for Real Imprvoement Confernece, QEII Centre.
1995
Feb
Virtual REality and Rapid Prototyping in Engineering, EPSRC Conference, 26-27th January. (United Kingdom, February, 1995)
Virtual REality and Rapid Prototyping in Engineering, EPSRC Conference, 26-27th January.
1994
Oct
Learning Sytles in Design at Information Technology in Design Conference, Moscow. (Russia, October, 1994)
Learning Sytles in Design at Information Technology in Design Conference, Moscow.
1993
Nov
The Use of Interactive Multimedia in Construction -Based Training at the Visualisaiton of Engineering Design Conference, Wessex Institute. (United Kingdom, November, 1993)
The Use of Interactive Multimedia in Construction -Based Training at the Visualisaiton of Engineering Design Conference, Wessex Institute.
1992
The Use of Mult-Media to Train Intelligent Command and Control of Major Incidents at the Information Technology for Training and Education Conference, University of Queensland. (Australia, 1992)
The Use of Mult-Media to Train Intelligent Command and Control of Major Incidents at the Information Technology for Training and Education Conference, University of Queensland.
1992
SERC - A Friend of ARCOM at the Construction Management Conference in the Isle of Man. (United Kingdom, 1992)
SERC - A Friend of ARCOM at the Construction Management Conference in the Isle of Man.
1992
The Use of Interactive Multimedia in Construction Based Training - an experiment with Experiential Learning a the Computer based Training in Property and Construction Conference, University of Salford. (United Kingdom, 1992)
The Use of Interactive Multimedia in Construction Based Training - an experiment with Experiential Learning a the Computer based Training in Property and Construction Conference, University of Salford.
1991
Clients, Designers and Contractors: the Harmony of Able Design Teams, at the Practice Management Conference, Manchester. (United Kingdom, 1991)
Clients, Designers and Contractors: the Harmony of Able Design Teams, at the Practice Management Conference, Manchester.
1991
An Academic View of Team Design, Winning the Design Team Games Conference, Bristol. (United Kingdom, 1991)
An Academic View of Team Design, Winning the Design Team Games Conference, Bristol.
1990
Educating for Quality at the Building Design in Management, Quality amd Economics in Buildings Conference, Lisbon. (Portugal, 1990)
Educating for Quality at the Building Design in Management, Quality amd Economics in Buildings Conference, Lisbon.
1990
New Technology - The only way?, in Opening New Horizons for your Business, Newcastle. (United Kingdom, 1990)
New Technology - The only way?, in Opening New Horizons for your Business, Newcastle.
1982
Aug
The Systemic Utilisation of Energy Resources in Primary Schools at the Design Policy Conference royal Colleg of Art, London. (United Kingdom, August, 1982)
The Systemic Utilisation of Energy Resources in Primary Schools at the Design Policy Conference royal Colleg of Art, London.
1982
Aug
Systematic and Systemic Monitoring of Energy Consuming Behaviour at the 7th International Conference on People and their Physical Surroundings, University of Barcelona. (Spain, August, 1982)
Systematic and Systemic Monitoring of Energy Consuming Behaviour at the 7th International Conference on People and their Physical Surroundings, University of Barcelona.
1981
The Integration of Specialist Subject Disicplines into Architectural Education, at the Design: Science: Method Conference, Portsmouth. (United Kingdom, 1981)
The Integration of Specialist Subject Disicplines into Architectural Education, at the Design: Science: Method Conference, Portsmouth.
1981
Whither goest Design Research, at the Design: Science: Method Conference Portsmouth. (United Kingdom, 1981)
Whither goest Design Research, at the Design: Science: Method Conference Portsmouth.
1981
HASSLE - a description of the effectiveness of a game designed to helpo housing associations voluntary members and designers understand granting and development bureaucracy at the Design: Science: Method Conference, Portsmouth. (United Kingdom, 1981)
HASSLE - a description of the effectiveness of a game designed to helpo housing associations voluntary members and designers understand granting and development bureaucracy at the Design: Science: Method Conference, Portsmouth.
1981
Oct
Oughtism or Autism in Design at the Annual Conference of the British Cybernetic Society at the Architectural Association. (United Kingdom, October, 1981)
Oughtism or Autism in Design at the Annual Conference of the British Cybernetic Society at the Architectural Association.
1981
Aug
Health Safety and Design: A Factory Context, at the Health and Safety Conference, Wembley Conference Centre. (United Kingdom, August, 1981)
Health Safety and Design: A Factory Context, at the Health and Safety Conference, Wembley Conference Centre.
1981
Aug
Information Technology for Architects to the RIBA/CIBS Conference on Energy Conserving Design at the RIBA, Portland Place, London. (United Kingdom, August, 1981)
Information Technology for Architects to the RIBA/CIBS Conference on Energy Conserving Design at the RIBA, Portland Place, London.
1981
May
Model Blindness: its implications on some aspects of Architectural Design, Research and Education (with B Russell), at the Conference on Problems of Levels and Boundaries, organised by Systeem Groep. (Netherlands, May, 1981)
Model Blindness: its implications on some aspects of Architectural Design, Research and Education (with B Russell), at the Conference on Problems of Levels and Boundaries, organised by Systeem Groep.
1981
Apr
Interdisciplinary Building Utilisation Studies (with M. Perkins) at the SSR/SERC Conference on Interdisciplinary Research, Bedford College, London. (United Kingdom, April, 1981)
Interdisciplinary Building Utilisation Studies (with M. Perkins) at the SSR/SERC Conference on Interdisciplinary Research, Bedford College, London.
1980
Aug
Noise and Acoustics in Fixed and Open Plan Schools Environments. At the International Congress on Acoustics Meeting, Auckland, NZ. (New Zealand, August, 1980)
Noise and Acoustics in Fixed and Open Plan Schools Environments. At the International Congress on Acoustics Meeting, Auckland, NZ.
1980
Aug
Towards an Automated Computer Managed Acoustic Information and Learning System and The Loudness of Recurrent Impact Noise Impact and Tonal Allowances in Standards. Tenth International Congress on Acoustics. (Australia, August, 1980)
Towards an Automated Computer Managed Acoustic Information and Learning System and The Loudness of Recurrent Impact Noise Impact and Tonal Allowances in Standards. Tenth International Congress on Acoustics.
Honours and Awards
2012
Visiting Senior Fellow at Warwick University Business Performance Resources Centre. (United Kingdom)
Visiting Senior Fellow at Warwick University Business Performance Resources Centre.
1996
Appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to science and to engineerig research and education in the 1996 Queens's Birthday Honours list. (United Kingdom, 1996)
Appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to science and to engineerig research and education in the 1996 Queens's Birthday Honours list.
1995
Most Creative leader of a creative Team (DTI Study) (United Kingdom, 1995)
Most Creative leader of a creative Team (DTI Study)
1993
'Best Interactive Audio ' Prize - European Multi-Media Event (1993)
'Best Interactive Audio ' Prize - European Multi-Media Event
1992
'Most Innovative Interactive Media' Project by the British Intractive Multimedia Association. (United Kingdom, 1992)
'Most Innovative Interactive Media' Project by the British Intractive Multimedia Association.
1992
Silver Award for an 'Education Development' by the British Internactive Multimedia Association. (United Kingdom, 1992)
Silver Award for an 'Education Development' by the British Internactive Multimedia Association.
1989
Natonal Technology enhanced Training Trophy for the 'Best AI for Learning' Project. (United Kingdom, 1989)
Natonal Technology enhanced Training Trophy for the 'Best AI for Learning' Project.
1967
The Mackay Drawing Prize (United Kingdom, 1967)
The Mackay Drawing Prize
1967
The Taylor Woodrow Engineering Prize (United Kingdom, 1967)
The Taylor Woodrow Engineering Prize
1967
The Building Centre Award (United Kingdom, 1967)
The Building Centre Award
1964
The University of Manchester Engineering Prize (United Kingdom, 1964)
The University of Manchester Engineering Prize
1963
C J Smith Prize for Pure/Applied Mathematics (United Kingdom, 1963)
C J Smith Prize for Pure/Applied Mathematics
Memberships of External Bodies
2012
Member of SERC Engineering Strategy Review Committee (United Kingdom)
Member of SERC Engineering Strategy Review Committee
2012
Member of EPSRC's IGDS Committee (United Kingdom)
Member of EPSRC's IGDS Committee
2012
Member of EPSRC's Built Environment Electroal College (United Kingdom)
Member of EPSRC's Built Environment Electroal College
2012
Appointed Adviser to the National IT Council of Malaysia and member of their distinguished International Speakers Forum (Singapore)
Appointed Adviser to the National IT Council of Malaysia and member of their distinguished International Speakers Forum
2012
Member of Technology Foresight Learning Panel (United Kingdom)
Member of Technology Foresight Learning Panel
2012
Chairman of DfEE's Committee concerning Research into Interactive Learning on the Information Superhighway (United Kingdom)
Chairman of DfEE's Committee concerning Research into Interactive Learning on the Information Superhighway
2012
Chairman of GEMISIS 2000 (United Kingdom)
Chairman of GEMISIS 2000
2012
Chairman of the Manufacturing Business Process Education Panel (United Kingdom)
Chairman of the Manufacturing Business Process Education Panel
2012
Chairman of SERC's Engineering Education and Training Review (United Kingdom)
Chairman of SERC's Engineering Education and Training Review
2012
Chairman of ESRC's Cognitive Engineering Panel (United Kingdom)
Chairman of ESRC's Cognitive Engineering Panel
2012
Editorial Board Member, Interactive Learning Environments Journal. (United Kingdom)
Editorial Board Member, Interactive Learning Environments Journal.
2012
Member of Technology Foresight Manufacture, Production and Busienss Process Committee (United Kingdom)
Member of Technology Foresight Manufacture, Production and Busienss Process Committee
2000
Jan
Full Member of Member of EPSRC's CPD (the Postgraduate Challenge) Committee (United Kingdom, January 2000 to January 2003).