Dr Rui Roberts

Qualifications:

BA, MSc (Economics, Finance, and Management, University of Bristol), PhD (Accounting and Finance, University of Bristol), SFHEA, CMBE

Position:

Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in Accounting and Finance

Department:

Faculty of Business and Law (FBL)

Telephone:

+441173285892

Email:

Rui.Dai@uwe.ac.uk

About me

My name is Dr Rui Roberts (née Dai), and I am a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in Accounting and Finance at UWE Bristol. I began teaching in 2012 while completing my PhD in Accounting and Finance at the University of Bristol, and I continued teaching there until joining UWE Bristol in May 2017.

At UWE Bristol, I have held a range of teaching, module leadership, and programme leadership roles across undergraduate Accounting and Finance provision. I have contributed to modules including Fundamentals of Management Accounting, and Financial Aspects for Marketing, Events, and Tourism.

I am currently a programme leader for undergraduate Accounting and Finance programmes at Level 4, with responsibilities spanning student engagement, academic quality, curriculum development, and student experience enhancement.

My work is strongly shaped by a commitment to inclusive and evidence-informed education. I have particular interests in learning analytics, digital and game-based learning, authentic assessment, and teaching practices that support engagement and success for diverse and widening-participation cohorts. I place student voice at the centre of my practice and work closely with colleagues, student representatives, and professional services to create a supportive and effective learning environment.

My disciplinary research interests lie in management accounting and management control systems, particularly in the public sector. My PhD research examined financial systems in UK universities, with a particular focus on resource allocation and budgeting, and explored how organisational structure, culture, and financial information systems influence these processes. Methodologically, my work has drawn on both qualitative and quantitative approaches, including interviews and survey research.

Alongside this, I am increasingly involved in pedagogic research and innovation in Accounting and Finance education, particularly in financial education, responsible finance, and employability. I am currently co-project lead on a Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) funded project, Work Ready Finance - Translating Financial Expertise using a Gamified AI Platform.

I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and a Certified Management and Business Educator (CMBE), and I remain keen to collaborate on research, pedagogic innovation, and externally engaged projects.

Funding
Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF), UWE Bristol, 2025-26
Work Ready Finance - Translating Financial Expertise using a Gamified AI Platform

Publication
Dugdale, D. and Dai, R. (2013) ‘Are universities adopting alternative solutions to the wasteful “use it or lose it” approach to their annual budgets?’, Financial Management (CIMA), December, p. 12.

Area of expertise

Management Accounting

Publications

Publications loading...