Overview
Dr Cunqiang (Felix) Shi is a Lecturer in Management at Bangor Business School, Bangor University. His research examines how workplaces and welfare systems shape the employment opportunities of disabled people and why policies designed to promote inclusion do not always remove barriers in practice.
He completed his PhD at Cardiff University, where he studied how major economic and social changes in China transformed the position of disabled workers in the labour market. His work now takes a broader comparative perspective, exploring disability employment, labour market participation and social policy in both the UK and international contexts.
Felix combines academic research with public engagement. He currently serves on the UK Government’s Timms Review Steering Group on Personal Independence Payment, contributing research expertise to discussions about how disability benefits interact with employment and everyday working life. He also works with charities, advocacy organisations and community groups to improve access to work and workplace inclusion.
At Bangor University, he leads Equality, Diversity and Sustainability initiatives within the Business School and teaches employment relations, management and business ethics.
Research interests
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Disability and employment
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Workplace inclusion and the “ideal worker” norm
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Welfare-to-work policy and labour market participation
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Sociology of work and inequality
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Labour market change in China and the UK
Additional Contact Information
Felix is located in A0.05 of the Alun Building
Students are advised to contact Felix via email or Microsoft Teams to arrange an appointment in advance.
Qualifications
- PhD
Cardiff University, 2018–2022 - MSc: Social Science Research Method
Cardiff University, 2017–2018 - MSc: Human Resource Management
Cardiff University, 2016–2017
Teaching and Supervision
Currently Felix is contributing to the following BBS modules:
ASB-2020 Management Planning and Coordination
ASB-2021 Commerical Awareness & Insight of Work
ASB-2605 Expereince of HRM at work
ASB-3535 HRM in an Ethical Agenda
ABM-4426 Contemporary Issues in Management
ASB/ABJ/ABM-4904 Applied Business Projects
Felix is currently supervising one PhD student on the topic of HRM and AI.
In 2025, Felix was nominated as candidate for teaching award (student led)
Postgraduate Project Opportunities
Publications
2025
- E-pub ahead of printThe Return Intention of Chinese International Students in the UK: Migration Policy, Employment, and Integration
Chau, W. F. & Shi, F., 24 Sept 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Diaspora Studies. 19, 1, p. 1-22 22 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2024
- PublishedHow to make your outdoor business accessible: A story from a disabled business researcher
Shi, F., Sept 2024, The Professional Mountaineer, 2024, autumn.
Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article - PublishedMobilizing Agency through Disability Networks in Crisis Response within Authoritarian context – evidence from a grassroot voluntary network in China
Shi, F. & Han, Q., 3 Sept 2024.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review - PublishedThe Past, Present, and Future: Hukou as a Social Status and Its Impact on Chinese Disabled Migrant Workers’ Social Mobility in the Labor Market
Shi, F. & Foster, D., 20 Jan 2024, In: Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal. 18, 4, p. 1-28 28 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2023
- PublishedThe Past, present and future: hukou as a social status and its impact on Chinese disabled migrant workers’ social mobility in the labor market
Shi, C. & Foster, D., 15 Jun 2023.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper - PublishedThe valuation on Disabled People during the social economic transition in China
Shi, C., 4 Apr 2023.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
2022
- PublishedPrecarity and Opportunity: A Report on the empirical findings on the experience of disabled people in the Chinese labour market
Shi, C., 18 Apr 2022.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
2019
- PublishedFreedom to fail? Disabled people's employment opportunities in contemporary China
Shi, C., 11 Jul 2019.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
2018
- PublishedDisability and Representation: A Case Study of China
Shi, C., 10 Dec 2018, 案例分析：残联在残障就业中的角色.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Activities
2026
- Department for Work and Pensions Select Committee (External organisation)
Timms Review Steering Group, Department for Work and Pension, UK HM government.
Jan 2026 – Dec 2026
Links:
Activity: Membership of board (Chair)
2025
- Access to Elected Office Wales Decision-Making Panel. (External organisation)
Oct 2025 →
Activity: Membership of committee (Chair) - The British Academy (External organisation)
Early Career Researcher Network Seed Fund peer reviewer
Oct 2025 →
Activity: Membership of committee (Chair) - Lessons from ‘Failures’: Workshop on British Academy (Rejected) Grant Applications
The British Academy Early Career Researcher Network workshop
19 Sep 2025
Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Speaker) - Yang Sun
9 Apr 2025
Activity: Hosting an academic visitor (Host)
2024
- Arfon Access Group (External organisation)
Jan 2024 →
Activity: Membership of network (Member)
2023
- Bangor University (Organisational unit)
ECR rep to the University’s Researcher Development & Concordat Group
5 Oct 2023 – 1 Oct 2025
Activity: Membership of network (Member) - Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal (Journal)
Member of the Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal Manuscript Review Board
1 Oct 2023 – 1 Oct 2026
Links:
Activity: Publication peer-review (Peer reviewer) - The Albert Gubay Business School (Organisational unit)
Member of Research and Impact Strategy committee
Oct 2023 →
Activity: Membership of committee (Member) - Social Inclusion (Journal)
Peer Reviewer for Social Inclusions: Social Inclusion (ISSN: 2183-2803) is a peer-reviewed open access journal which provides academics and policy-makers with a forum to discuss and promote a more socially inclusive society.
23 Jun 2023
Activity: Publication peer-review (Peer reviewer)
2021
- DISABILITY WALES (External organisation)
Appointed Board Director
12 Oct 2021 – 12 Oct 2024
Links:
Activity: Membership of board (Director)
Projects
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Navigating the Uncertainty: Labour Market Participation of COVID-AI Generation
01/03/2026 – 15/12/2026 (Active)