We’re speaking to colleagues who are taking advantage of opportunities - on and off campus - to pursue their goals, make the most of development opportunities or try something new.

Name: Dr Georgia Kremmyda

Job title: Civil Engineering Degree Leader

Department: School of Engineering

What does your role involve?

I am responsible for providing academic leadership in undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses in Civil Engineering, contributing to student experience and leading in curriculum development, administration, liaison with industry, coordination and development of new courses. Recently, I have also undertaken the role of Director of Student Recruitment for my department.

Tell us a bit about your plans in 2018…

In the last two years I have been developing a postgraduate taught course in Humanitarian Engineering, while at the moment I am leading the curriculum development of a new undergraduate Civil Engineer Apprenticeship Degree; both to be launched in October 2018. I feel really excited for these initiatives and they are both very stimulating; each for different reasons. The Humanitarian Engineering course is a new innovative interdisciplinary cross-faculty programme, bringing together features of excellent teaching and research from various Warwick disciplines, while the Civil Engineer Apprenticeship Degree breaks fresh ground in engineering education by introducing active learning methods and blended learning models. My plans, therefore, for 2018 are mainly focused on setting in place these two new degrees, ready to welcome their first students!

What inspired you to develop the course in Humanitarian Engineering?

Engineering disciplines have a pivotal role to play in the solution of global humanitarian challenges, enabling our societies to progress towards sustainable development. Because the issues of humanitarianism are not just engineering problems, there is need to engage with other professions and stakeholders, and to introduce interdisciplinary education and training to embrace and exploit combinational expertise.

Moreover, I always felt that there is need to improve the perception of science and engineering in the developing world, beyond ‘charity and volunteering’. What mainly inspired me to this project is the opportunity to introduce a mainstream, long-term and highly skilled profession, that can ensure there are advancements of education and practice in tackling humanitarian challenges.

What are you most looking forward to?

I am looking forward to seeing the fruits of the last years’ efforts coming out and being able to see the impact of my work on other people, and mainly on our students. This will give me more motivation to maintain and grow further what is already in place.

Can you see any challenges ahead?

Problems arise on a regular basis in both work and life. I believe that I know how to rise to challenges and deal with problems calmly and effectively. Every problem has a solution and no obstacle is insurmountable!

What other development opportunities have you made the most of, either through Warwick or outside of work? What did you get out of these?

I can list a great number of development opportunities that I have made the most of, through Warwick and outside. The most important Warwick ones are the Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning (IATL) funding opportunities to staff for the support of strategic projects, attending the Warwick Leadership Programme (WLP), and becoming a fellow of the Warwick International Higher Education Academy (WIHEA).

IATL has been the incubator of the Humanitarian Engineering project and I believe that this has been the greatest developmental opportunity I got so far at Warwick, providing me with insight on how to achieve my full potential. WLP has been also a great experience, helping me to unfold my leadership and management skills and my fellowship to WIHEA has encouraged me to expand my network of contacts across the University, and provided me with access to numerous developmental activities (seminars, masterclasses, learning circles).

Outside Warwick my involvement to Women’s Engineering Society (WES) has helped me become member of a professional network of women engineers, scientists and technologists offering inspiration, support and professional development. Shortly after becoming member to WES, I have been nominated for Council member, then Director of Education and Trustee. This opportunity opened me up the door to become an ECU Athena SWAN panellist for the evaluation of Institutional and Departmental applications for Athena SWAN awards, member and Board Director of the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES) and INWES Europe.

Any top tips for colleagues when thinking about their personal or professional development?

I think this might sound a bit engineering but my golden top tip is ‘If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door…'