The School of Engineering and Materials Science is delighted to welcome Dr Nike Folayan MBE HonFREng as a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor.

For three years, Dr Folayan will work as a Professor of Inclusive Engineering Education and Professional Skills Development, utilising her extensive academic and professional experience to develop our curriculum and teaching materials and embed inclusivity at the heart of our educational approach.

Dr Folayan will deliver a programme of activities, including interactive seminars and mentorship opportunities for all undergraduate and postgraduate students, focusing on diversity in leadership, overcoming barriers for underrepresented groups, and the importance of inclusive design. There will also be staff development workshops on embedding inclusive pedagogy and cultural competence into the curriculum.

The programme seeks to develop rounded professionals who are not only technically skilled, but also critically engaged with the broader social, ethical, and environmental dimensions of engineering practice. Students are expected to develop key attributes including:

• Improved critical thinking: Encouraging them to explore how cultural competence and inclusivity influence engineering outcomes.
• Enhanced graduate attributes: Engaging with global case studies to apply engineering principles in culturally diverse and economically varied contexts.
• Increased employability: Gaining insight into the soft skills and professional competencies required for success in the modern engineering workforce.

Dr Folayan is a Technical Director for the Communications and Control Division at WSP, a leading global consultancy firm. She is also the Co-Founder and Chair of the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK) - a national organisation that promotes diversity in the engineering and technology sectors. Under her leadership, AFBE-UK has grown to over 3,000 members, partnered with more than 80 corporations and universities, and reached over 23,000 beneficiaries across the UK.

The AFBE supports individuals through initiatives such as career workshops, mentoring programmes, and industry partnerships.

Find out more:

Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK)
Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professorships