Joy Perkins has an established research profile in employability, curriculum development and enterprise education. Before joining the Learning & Teaching Academy at Heriot-Watt University in 2024, as Associate Professor in Curriculum Innovation and Work-Integrated Learning, she was based at the University of Aberdeen. During this 20 year period, Joy led cross-University strategic projects in graduate attributes, co-curricular learning including the well-regarded student skills-based STAR Award, and embedded employability holistically in the curriculum through work-based and experiential learning. These strategic approaches often instigated pedagogic research, generating evidence-based insights into the impact of these initiatives on student learning and employability development. The resulting publications have contributed to the broader discourse on innovative teaching practices, curriculum design, and the advancement of employability knowledge across the wider higher education sector. 

More recently, Joy’s research interests have expanded to include the design and impact of micro-credentials on education and workforce development, the use of digital credentialing in skills recognition, and the role of employer engagement in curriculum development. These ventures are characterised by a commitment to collaborative research, involving employers and external organisations from a diverse range of employment sectors and organisational sizes.

She has reviewed research papers for a number of journals including the Journal of Teaching & Learning for Graduate Employability.  In 2025, Joy’s research was recognised through a best paper award at the Symposium on Qualifications, Training, Micro-Credentials and Sustainable Development, held at Tallinn University, Estonia.