Professor Mike Fernando
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Professor Fernando is a senior academic leader with a proven track record in higher education leadership. Mike has extensive experience in leading change management and implementing strategies for research and academic success, and he is recognised both nationally and internationally.
He is a member of the Academic Accreditation Committee of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and represents the Engineering Council UK (EngC) at the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE). Mike serves as a Professor and Dean here.
The School of Engineering and Computing (SEC) is one of the largest schools here. Alongside five Associate Deans, Mike provides strategic direction for the School, which operates on a budget of £40 million. He offers operational leadership by collaborating with the Academic Leads. The school encompasses a wide range of subject areas, including Architecture, Aerospace, Aviation, Astronomy, Construction, Cyber Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Motorsports, Mathematics, Maintenance, Oil and Gas, and Fire Engineering. The school is home to three research institutes: the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute (JHI), the Institute for Engineering and Technology Innovation (InETI), and the Future Digital Technology Institute (FDTI). It also hosts the Cyber Solutions Centre (CSC) and leads partnership work with the National Cyber Force (NCF).
Before joining us, Mike served as the Dean of Strategic Development and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Computing, and Engineering (FACE) at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD). He is a Chartered Engineer and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Prior to UWTSD, he led a multi-disciplinary portfolio of undergraduate programs offered by the School of Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University. Mike is an experienced engineering academic, an academic consultant for transnational education (TNE), and an industrial consultant for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC).
As an RF engineer, Mike's research expertise lies in imaging applications for medical, security, and sustainable farming purposes. In 2015, he received the European Award for Sustainable Human Development (SHD) - Global Dimension in Engineering Education (GDEE) for his innovative design of a portable electronic wool counter. His latest research focuses on exploring AI-based image-processing solutions for climate resilience, with recent findings published in Nature Scientific Reports in April 2024. Mike's research has been supported by grants from the Ministry of Defence (MoD-UK), the Wellcome Trust, the British Council, and the Leverhulme Trust. His most recent research grant is a successful bid for the Higher Education Investment and Recovery (HEIR) program, amounting to £4.75 million.
Mike is a board member of T2000 UK and the European Universities of Egypt (EUE). He previously served as a Director on the Board of TechHub Swansea.
- PhD Medical Electronics using Microwave Engineering, Northumbria University, 2012
- MSc Optoelectronics & Communication Systems, Northumbria University, 2004
- European Award for Sustainable Human Development
- Global Dimension in Engineering Education, 2016
- Academic Accreditation Committee, The Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET)
- UK- EngC Representative at the Administrative Council of the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE)
Email: Email:Professor Mike Fernando