Professor Heba Elsharkawy

In my teaching practice, I have always reflected intently on students' feedback and comments and introduced appropriate adjustments in response to their needs and expectations. My Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning programme and recognition as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) has also developed my critical reflection on my teaching practice and has underpinned my teaching activities. I have also achieved the Senior Fellowship status SFHEA.

With climate literacy, sustainability and environmental design at the heart of my teaching and research endeavours for more than 20 years, I have been passionate about creating curricula which are linked to and informed by diverse research methodologies. Through my teaching practice, I have taken the initiative to apply my research in education for sustainability via subject material delivery by experimenting with and disseminating project-based learning (PBL) approaches and pedagogies. I have led and contributed to various modules in undergraduate and postgraduate courses at 4 UK HEIs, which included:

• Design studio tutoring
• Net Zero Carbon, and environmental design of buildings
• Architectural research methods
• Architectural representation (digital and analogue)
• UG and PG dissertation supervision

Prior to joining Kingston University, my experience in teaching on undergraduate and postgraduate courses includes course leadership of:

• BSc (Hons) Architecture at University of East London
• BSc (Hons) Architectural Design Technology at University of East London
• MSc Sustainable Mega Buildings at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University

External innovation and Impact on HE pedagogy and practices:

• Member of the Advisory Group developing the new 2021 QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Architectural Technology Subject.
• Council member of the Standing Conference of Schools of Architecture (SCOSA), leading a Working Group on Sustainability and Climate Literacy. The Working Group aims to enable UK Schools of Architecture to embed the RIBA Climate Literacy Knowledge Schedule into UG and PG Architecture curricula.
• External Examiner and Validation Activities:
• Appointed as External Examiner to Manchester Metropolitan University – British University in Egypt dual degree in BA Interior Design (2023-2026)
• External Assessor for validation of dual degree in BA (Hons) Interior Design Manchester Metropolitan University – British University in Egypt (2022)
• External Examiner for BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology at Anglia Ruskin University (2016-2020), assisting colleagues with constructive criticism and feedback associated with the external examination process.
• Validation panel member at the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT)
• Validation panel member at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

Qualifications

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Courses taught

• Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 2) MArch
• Architecture BA (Hons)

Besides my ambition to ensure excellence in my learning and teaching approaches, my key research expertise and interest lie in the area of environmental design and education for sustainability. I have gained this knowledge through my wide and significant exposure to complex practices and precedents within my academic and research practice. I have published around 40 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals and conferences. I have been leading and contributing to applications for research funding throughout my academic career. I have been actively exploring interdisciplinary opportunities to apply for substantive UKRI funding bids on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

I am currently leading a British Council funded project: Towards Net Zero Carbon Campuses for Climate Change Mitigation and Resilience. The project enables universities establish a clear pathway to achieve Net Zero Carbon Campuses by 2050 by developing a robust Climate Action Framework, building staff and student capacity to enable actions to reduce carbon emissions and disseminate awareness within their wider communities.

I have recently been successful as a Co-I in securing a Medical Research Council grant (total £150K): Healthy Energy Efficient Dwellings (HEED). The project explores the variables affecting people's health conditions, and the implications of building design and performance on occupants' comfort, health and wellbeing in council homes.

I was Principal Investigator to a British Council Newton Institutional Links funded project; Building Capacity for Sustainable Development of the Built Environment (total grant £288K). I organised and led two international conferences, four professional training programmes, undertook world class research, and developed international dual degree programmes.

I am currently Director of Studies to one PhD student and supervising MArch Architecture students' dissertations. I have been Director of Studies of 3 PhD students to completion at UEL, besides supervising 3 PhD students and 11 MSc students' dissertations at WSA.

Specialisms

• Environmental design
• Designing for net zero carbon
• Education for sustainability and climate literacy
• Pro-environmental behaviour
• Building performance and occupants comfort

Owing to my genuine interest in knowledge transfer, business, innovation and internationalisation, I have initiated and developed various successful initiatives and projects at all HEIs where I have worked. Those projects range from international partnerships to support the enhancement of research output to others which enhance student learning, employability and graduate prospects and developing short courses to raise KU's profile, diversify income, and increase student recruitment.

• Creating the Net Zero Carbon Architecture international summer school at KSA in 2022: The programme ran in July 2022 with 90 students and programmed to run in July 2023 in its second year.
• Initiating a Cairo University, Egypt – Kingston University collaboration: the collaborative partnership may cover several Transnational Education (TNE) models on undergraduate and postgraduate levels (dual degree / joint degree / franchise).
• University of Johannesburg collaborative partnership: an MoU in progress to involve other KSA Departments.
• Catholic University of America, Washington DC: working with dep't colleagues to progress a potential collaboration (and MoU).
• BIG South London Partnership: I have been actively involved in KSA's Business Innovation and Growth South London partnership.
• Creating and validating the international Architecture and Design Summer Programme at UEL: This programme was introduced as one of the marketing and recruitment initiatives, and managed to recruit more than 140 international students over 3 years.
• Creating 4 training programmes on Sustainable Development of the Built Environment.
• Creating the Low Carbon Architecture Summer Programme at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University: the programme recruited 240 international students between 2013-2015
• UEL-Ain Shams University Dual Degree Programmes: The dual degree awards arrangement initiated with 3 courses and currently covers 13 courses generating significant income.
• Cardiff University, Welsh School of Architecture and the British University in Dubai: I led the school collaboration with the British University in Dubai (BUiD) with strategic partnership of an alliance of UK Russell Group Universities to include dual MSc degrees, and a split-site PhD programme.

Areas of interest

• Short course development
• Transnational Education partnerships and models
• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)
• Degree Apprenticeships

A key aspect to my role as Head of Department is to lead and manage the department's relationship and engagement with relevant Professional, Statutory and/or Regulatory Body (or Bodies) (PSRBs), subject associations, ‘communities of practice', and external public organisations that contribute to student success and employability, staff experience, and Kingston's reputation, impact, and profile.

The Department works closely with the following PSRBs, which accredit the courses:

• Architects Registration Board (ARB)
• The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
• Landscape Institute (LI)
• The Royal Institution of Chartered Building Surveyors (RICS)
• Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC)

The Department is an active member of the following subject associations:

• Standing Conference of Schools of Architecture (SCOSA)
• Association of Architectural Educators (AAE)

As I am always keen to proactively contribute to University/Faculty/School strategy, I have been nominated to join the Town House Strategy - Future Skills Campaign Workstream where I am Associate Lead of Project 1: External Partnering. The project aims to develop a gateway and triage into the university for external partners to create fruitful partnerships for students and staff communities. I have also been nominated to join the Town House People Workstream Advisory Group focusing on Staff Rewards and Recognition.

Owing to my genuine interest in climate literacy and sustainability, I have been nominated to join the Net Zero Carbon, and Communications and Engagement Steering Groups. Together with both Steering Group teams, we are working towards ensuring Kingston University's commitments in achieving Net Zero Carbon (net zero Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 2038/39 and net zero Scope 3 CO2 emissions by 2050/51) are reached.

As Head of Department, I am responsible for the Department's academic portfolio, students' learning experience, and management of staff and resources. I am an active member of the School Management Group (SMG) supporting and contributing to the School strategic planning. I work closely with the Department Management Group (DMG) on staff planning and recruitment, academic portfolio development, PSRB reports and submissions, students' experience, and enhancing research, knowledge exchange, business and international initiatives. In my role, I have managed to:

• Create innovative curriculum development (design and delivery) at UG and PG levels
• Ensure quality of students' experience within the Department
• Facilitate and improve the quality of teaching ensuring the curricula engage with research and practice
• Champion Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in all activities within the Department and across the School/Faculty
• Develop and maintain subject expertise and excellence appropriate to meeting the University strategic objectives 
• Lead on Department projects and maintain a track record of securing funding 

In my role as HoD, I have been managing financial and human resources; ensuring adherence to regulations, policies and procedures, and value for money. My responsibilities include:

• Providing leadership and strategic direction for the Department, in consultation and collaboration with SMG
• Management and operational activities of the Department, including line management of staff 
• Overseeing the Department's allocation of workloads and timetabling 
• Organising staff development aimed towards excellence in teaching, research and business and innovation 
• Leading on all Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRB) activities within the Department (RIBA, ARB, LI, RICS)

Qualifications and expertise

• Leadership and Management training, Kingston University
• Developing Leaders Programme, Cardiff University
• Aurora leadership training by Advance HE
• First Aid Qualification Course
• Mental Health First Aid, MHFA England