Safiya Banu

I’m a final year PhD student researching 'Inequalities in HR Policies and Practices in the UAE'. I have completed my bachelors (BBA), Post-Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) and masters (MSc Business Psychology) from Heriot-Watt University’s Dubai campus and have been an adjunct tutor since 2015. I was also elected the first Student Union president of the Dubai Campus in 2010/11. My supervisors Professor Laura Galloway, Professor Nicolina Kamenou-Aigbekaen and Profesor Kathryn Waite have been my greatest support system during my PhD journey. One of my biggest achievements is my first publication titled ‘A relational approach to exploring inequalities within the human resource management model in the Middle East’ in the International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion. 

My research is mainly in the diversity management (OB/HRM) space where I am exploring inequalities in HR policies and practices in the UAE. I am particularly interested in understanding the role of social capital and ‘wasta’ in recruitment, selection and promotion.

My study extends to other aspects of perceived inequalities like the ethnic pay gap which is gaining more focus in the Middle East and compares to the gender pay gap in the West. I have used qualitative research methods to conduct my interviews with over 65 employees and HR personnel working in two organisations in the construction industry in the UAE, studying the similarities and differences in HR approaches from an MNE versus a local organisation perspective. I’m currently in the data analysis and writing-up stage.