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David Soehren

Liverpool Business School

Faculty of Business and Law

David is a senior lecturer and DBA doctoral candidate at Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University. With over a decade of experience, he is known for his engaging, student-centred approach, transforming complex concepts into relatable lessons. He connects with his students through storytelling, metaphors, imagery, and process infographics. His teaching spans various subjects, including marketing, management, and human resource management (HRM).

A hallmark of his teaching is integrating High-Impact Practices (HIP) and the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) frameworks, ensuring accessibility and engagement for all students. His award-winning Advanced Selection Practice module, which earned him the UFHRD Teaching and Learning Prize (2018), exemplifies this approach as it engages students in co-creating assessment centre experiences, from design to execution, providing peer-to-peer feedback and valuable growth opportunities. He has also received LJMU’s Individual Teaching Excellence Award (2020) for his creative and inclusive pedagogic strategies.

David co-designed and facilitated the Business and Law Faculty Teaching and Development days between 2017 and 2022. The peer-led sessions evolved from integrating the Virtual Learning Environment (Canvas) and technologies in teaching between 2017 and 2019. From 2020 through 2022, the focus moved to teaching online, rethinking how best to use Canvas, MS Teams, and other online platforms. After 2022, the Development Days Post-Covid explored ‘Hybrid & beyond’ and how we redesign design programmes to best support students’ learning. His leadership during these initiatives reflects his commitment to advancing innovative and inclusive teaching practices.

Between 2018 and 2021, David served as Programme Manager for the Business and Human Resources programme, contributing to curriculum development and programme management. He has also actively shaped the university’s academic policies and student experience through committee and board memberships. David has contributed to the University’s Learning Environment Panel (LEP), helping shape the future of learning spaces and environments (2019-2023). He served as the teaching staff representative on the Academic Board (2019-2023) and as a member of the Faculty Education Committee (2017-2022). David is currently a member of the Faculty Education and Student Experience Committee (2022-present).

David embraces the philosophy that “learning is far too important to be taken seriously” and brings this light-hearted approach to all aspects of his teaching. Whether guiding students through entrepreneurial challenges in a dragon’s den-style module, facilitating and assessing students’ exploration and demonstration of management concepts in their lives, or rethinking programme designs in response to evolving educational needs, David remains passionate about creating meaningful and transformative learning experiences that inspire his students and colleagues alike.

Degrees

1993, New York Institute of Technology, United States, MA, Communication Arts Specialisation in Animation
1989, SUNY College at Old Westbury, United States, BA, Business and Management Studies specialising in Marketing
1986, Fashion Institute of Technology, United States, AAS, Advertising Design

Certifications

2018, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, Postgraduate Certificate Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

Academic appointments

Member of the Faculty Education and Student Experience Committee (FESEC), LBS, Liverpool John Moores University, 2022 - present
Academic Board (Teaching Staff Rep) from June 2019-June 2023, LBS, Liverpool John Moores University, 2019 - 2023
Member of Liverpool John Moores University Learning Environment Panel (LEP), LBS, Liverpool John Moores University, 2019 - 2024
Programme Manager - Business & Human Resource, Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University, 2018 - 2021
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, Human Rources Management, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, 2017 - present
Member of the Faculty of Education Committee (FEC), LBS, Liverpool John Moores University, 2017 - 2022

Postgraduate training

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), United Kingdom, Liverpool John Moores University, 2022 - present

Chapters

Wall T, Williams S, Österlind E, Dixon L, Soehren D. 2024. Future developments to embrace a ‘pedagogy of passion’. Wall T, Österlind E, Hallgren E. Sustainability Teaching for Impact How to Inspire and Engage Students Using Drama Routledge 9781032769301

Stevens M, Royce M, Jariwala J, Soehren D. 2022. Enhancing Teaching Practice in Higher Education Kreß B, Kuße H. International Perspectives on Scientific Teaching and Learning Peter Lang. https://www.peterlang.com/document/1296852 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Harrison P, Soehren D. 2017. Working collaboratively as a member of a team or working group Stewart J, Rogers P. Studying Learning and Development Context, Practice and Measurement :59-88 Cipd - Kogan Page 9781843984146

Wall T, Williams S, Dixon L, Soehren D. Provocation: Futuring at scale Wall T, Österlind E, Hallgren E, Kernan MA. Sustainability teaching for impact: how to engage and inspire students using drama Routledge 9781032769301

Highlighted activities

Conference presentation:

Why students don't read emails: student voice research project, LJMU Student at the Heart Conference, LJMU Liverpool, Oral presentation. 2022

Creative Role Play Supporting Practitioner Learning Workshop (SOC2.5), Advance HE Teaching and Learning Conference 2019, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Oral presentation, https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2019-06/Abstract%20Teaching%20and%20Learning%20Conference%20Day%203%2C%204%20July_2019_0.pdf. 2019

Student partners in designing professional content and assessment, LJMU Teaching & Learning Conference, LJMU, Liverpool, Oral presentation. 2019

Practice Based Teaching: A Different Type of Module, CABS 2019 Learning, Teaching & Student Experience Conference, Manchester, Oral presentation. 2019

Mad, bad and dangerous to know: unpacking the meaning of ‘intellectually stimulating', LJMU Teaching & Learning Conference, Liverpool, Oral presentation. 2018

Relationship first: How meaningful relationships facilitate student engagement, LJMU Teaching & Learning Conference, Liverpool, Oral presentation. 2012

Award:

2020 Individual Teaching Excellence Award - Recognition of Distinction, LJMU Teaching and Learning Academy. 2020

UFHRD Teaching and Learning Prize 2018 - Training resource titled 'Assessment Centre - Practical Assessment', UFHRD. 2018

Professional activities

Other Professional Activity:

Curriculum Enhancement Internship (CEI) - Digital Enhancement Club: Empowering Students Through Technology and Community.. 2025

Student Voice Research Project: Why students don’t read emails - Canvas and Communications. 2021

Curriculum Enhancement Internship (CEI) - HR Database Development and Peer Learning Workshops. 2019

Curriculum Enhancement Internship (CEI) - Data set creation to inform HR case studies and business scenarios. 2018

Membership of professional bodies:

CMBE, CABS. 2024

Student Membership, British Academy of Management. 2024

Fellow (FHEA), Advance HE. 2018

Affiliate, CIPD.

Conference presentation:

Why students don't read emails: student voice research project, LJMU Student at the Heart Conference, LJMU Liverpool, Oral presentation. 2022

Creative Role Play Supporting Practitioner Learning Workshop (SOC2.5), Advance HE Teaching and Learning Conference 2019, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Oral presentation, https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2019-06/Abstract%20Teaching%20and%20Learning%20Conference%20Day%203%2C%204%20July_2019_0.pdf. 2019

Student partners in designing professional content and assessment, LJMU Teaching & Learning Conference, LJMU, Liverpool, Oral presentation. 2019

Practice Based Teaching: A Different Type of Module, CABS 2019 Learning, Teaching & Student Experience Conference, Manchester, Oral presentation. 2019

Mad, bad and dangerous to know: unpacking the meaning of ‘intellectually stimulating', LJMU Teaching & Learning Conference, Liverpool, Oral presentation. 2018

Relationship first: How meaningful relationships facilitate student engagement, LJMU Teaching & Learning Conference, Liverpool, Oral presentation. 2012

Award:

2020 Individual Teaching Excellence Award - Recognition of Distinction, LJMU Teaching and Learning Academy. 2020

UFHRD Teaching and Learning Prize 2018 - Training resource titled 'Assessment Centre - Practical Assessment', UFHRD. 2018

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