Dr Chika Judith Abolle-Okoyeagu is an Associate Professor and Head of the Electronic and Electrical Engineering Department in the School of Computing, Engineering and Technology at Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University (RGU).
She is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE), and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).
Dr Abolle-Okoyeagu recently spoke to Astute as part of their new Women in Engineering series.
What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, and how has that motivation evolved over time?
My background is in mechanical engineering.
I studied it at undergraduate level, followed by a master’s degree in computer systems engineering, and then returned to mechanical engineering for my PhD.
That research brought the two disciplines together – I used finite element analysis to study damage in pipes.
My motivation was quite simple: I was always fascinated by how things work and move.
As a child, I loved making and fixing things around the house.
That curiosity naturally developed into a passion for engineering.
But it wasn’t without resistance.
When I first said I wanted to study engineering, my dad was completely against it.
He believed engineering was for men, not women.
It took some back and forth, but I eventually pursued mechanical engineering – and I absolutely loved it.
Today, my dad is a proud father.
Your career has spanned both academia and industry; how have these two worlds shaped your perspective as an engineer and a leader?
I’ve always loved teaching, so I knew early on that industry wouldn’t be a long-term path for me.
My first industry experience was during my industrial training with Total back in Africa -required for engineering students before graduation.
I enjoyed it, but I craved more. I wanted to explore research and problem-solving.
After finishing my degree, I completed a mandatory year of training, then came to the UK for my MSc.
I tried to get funding for a PhD, which meant returning to industry briefly.
But as soon as I secured a scholarship, I transitioned into research and academia – my true passion.
These experiences helped shape my identity, but ultimately, I’m most fulfilled when I’m teaching and researching.
Who were some of your role models or key influences during your early years in engineering?
Growing up, I didn’t really have any engineering role models.
It was just something I was passionate about.
When I came to the UK, I started seeing more women in engineering, and that changed things for me.
One figure who really stood out was Verena Holmes- one of the UK’s first women engineers.
Her story resonated with me.
Like me, she didn’t have much encouragement or support and had to forge her own path.
That connection made a big impact.
That’s why I’m so passionate about mentorship now.
I want to be the role model I didn’t have.
You’ve spoken passionately about bridging theory and practical experience. What are the most effective ways universities can prepare students for industry today?
This is something I care deeply about.
I’ve published work on Industry 4.0 competencies, and I believe work-based learning is essential.
At our university, we integrate hands-on experience from day one.
Our programmes are designed to be practical, and we partner with industry to solve real-life problems.
Final-year students, for instance, work directly with companies to develop solutions to genuine challenges.
We’re also moving toward fully work-integrated learning, where students develop portfolios by solving real-world problems as part of their coursework.
We co-design our curriculum with industry so we can deliver exactly what employers need.
This approach has led to exceptionally high employability rates for our graduates across Scotland and the UK.
You’re a prominent gender equality advocate. What do you believe are the biggest barriers still facing women in engineering today?
A major issue is the ongoing lack of role models and mentors.
But early exposure and education are just as crucial.
From a young age, girls are given dolls while boys are given trains and building toys.
That shapes perceptions.
We need to introduce engineering concepts earlier – through robotics, coding, hands-on projects, and competitions.
Curricula should include stories and achievements of female engineers, and our educational materials should reflect diversity by showing women in active, leading roles.
Creating a supportive environment is also key.
Families and teachers need to understand the value of engineering careers for girls.
Access to scholarships, internships, STEM camps, and mentorship programmes is vital too.
I work with an organisation that offers scholarships and mentorship to attract and retain women in engineering. It’s a two-phased approach: getting girls in, and then ensuring they stay.
Representation matters as well.
This generation is on TikTok and Instagram – we should be sharing stories of female engineers on those platforms.
Government and industry must get more involved in driving these changes.
Being named one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering is a huge honour. What did that recognition mean to you personally and professionally?
It meant a great deal. It felt like all the effort I’d put in was finally being recognised.
I’ve received other accolades, such as becoming a Fellow of the IMechE – another honour, especially as there aren’t many women represented there.
But the WE50 recognition was special because I’m so passionate about mentorship and role modelling.
It gave young girls a chance to see someone in engineering who looks like them – someone who wears red lipstick and still made the Top 50!
That visibility matters.
It was a really proud moment.
What advice would you give to young women entering the engineering field who are striving to make an impact like you have?
Be yourself.
Be happy and confident.
If you love engineering, pursue it wholeheartedly.
Don’t let the male-dominated nature of the field make you feel like you don’t belong or shouldn’t speak up.
Imposter syndrome is real, and many women experience it.
But we need to overcome that. Be vocal, be visible, and take pride in your work.
Don’t shrink yourself to fit in.
What future trends do you see shaping the engineering sector in the next decade, especially for women in the field?
Artificial intelligence is here to stay, and it’s already reshaping the sector.
There’s a lot of research around how it may affect women, but one thing is clear -we must adapt.
We need to move with the tide.
Women in engineering must embrace AI and use it to our advantage.
If we don’t, we risk being left behind.
That’s the key message.
If you could change one thing in engineering education or industry overnight to make it more inclusive, what would that be?
I would revise our learning materials – textbooks, online resources, everything – to include more images and stories of women.
Representation matters.
Students need to see that women have contributed significantly to engineering.
That visibility could inspire the next generation.
About Dr Judith Abolle-Okoyeagu
Dr Abolle-Okoyeagu holds a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Minna and an MSc in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of East London.
She earned her PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.
With over ten years of experience spanning academia and industry, she previously worked as a Mechanical Computer-Aided Engineering Lead at Edinburgh Napier University before joining RGU.
Her current research focuses on Finite Element Analysis and applying computational modelling to structural monitoring.
