Tariq Umar

Qualifications:

PhD, CEng, Eur Ing, MICE, FHEA

Position:

Associate Professor in Sustainable Construction and the Built Environment

Department:

College of Arts, Technology and EnvironmentSchool of Architecture and Environment

Telephone:

+441173281960

Email:

Tariq.Umar@uwe.ac.uk

Social media:

About me

Tariq Umar is Associate Professor in Sustainable Construction and the Built Environment in the School of Architecture and Environment at UWE Bristol. His research focuses on sustainable and low-carbon construction, engineering sustainability, climate-resilient infrastructure, construction management and safety, circular economy and resource management, and the application of digital technologies and artificial intelligence within the built environment. An increasing strand of his work examines the intersections between sustainability, digital infrastructure, skills, inclusion and the transition towards net zero.

His research combines technical, managerial and policy-relevant perspectives to address contemporary challenges facing the built environment and engineering sectors. Tariq has published more than 100 research outputs across construction management, renewable and sustainable energy, engineering sustainability, construction materials, safety and health, waste and resource management, Construction 4.0 and STEM higher education.

Tariq has led and contributed to externally funded research, knowledge exchange and academic leadership activities supported by organisations including UKRI/EPSRC, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the British Council, the British Academy and SEAMEO RIHED. His recent portfolio includes UKRI-funded research on inclusive adoption of high-performance computing and carbon-aware digital research infrastructure; Royal Academy of Engineering projects addressing green engineering skills, circularity and the recognition of informal engineering skills in Africa; and British Council-supported international collaborations in Mexico, Indonesia and Kazakhstan. His work has also included research with the University of Malaya, Malaysia, and Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, examining resilience and institutional support systems in higher education.

International collaboration is a significant part of his academic work. Tariq holds Visiting Professor appointments at the Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya, Malaysia, and the Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Satbayev University, Kazakhstan. These appointments support international research collaboration, postgraduate mentoring, research-led teaching, transnational education and institutional capacity building across sustainable construction, infrastructure, architecture and the wider built environment.

His research is closely connected to professional, industry and policy engagement. Tariq contributes to the Green Construction Board and the UK Low Carbon Concrete Group, supporting work relevant to the decarbonisation of the UK construction sector and the transition towards lower-carbon and more sustainable practice. He is also a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers Academic Qualifications Panel, contributing to the review and assurance of academic standards for civil engineering qualifications.

Tariq is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), European Engineer (Eur Ing), Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (MICE) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). He also contributes to the Institution of Civil Engineers as a Professional Reviewer, Approved Mentor and End Point Assessor for civil engineering apprentices.

Tariq contributes extensively to research assessment, doctoral examination and academic quality assurance. He serves on the peer-review colleges of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), alongside undertaking research proposal assessment for other national and international organisations.

He has substantial experience as a PhD External Examiner, including appointments for Coventry University, the University of Salford, Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, the National College of Business Administration and Economics in Pakistan, and Satbayev University in Kazakhstan. His other external academic appointments include the University of Portsmouth, University of Greenwich and Bath Spa University.

Tariq also undertakes editorial and peer-review activities for international academic journals and conferences and contributes to professional development, mentoring and STEM engagement.

He has been included in the Stanford Top 2% Scientists ranking for three consecutive years (2023–2025). He has also been recognised by ScholarGPS as a Top Scholar in Civil and Environmental Engineering, based on research performance over the preceding five-year period.

Tariq welcomes collaboration with academic, industry, government and international partners across sustainable construction, net zero, climate resilience, sustainable infrastructure, digital innovation, engineering skills and higher education, as well as enquiries from prospective doctoral researchers working across these areas.

Research and professional profiles: Google Scholar | ORCID | Web of Science | Engineering Council UK Case Study | Scopus | LinkedIn

Area of expertise

Tariq welcomes PhD enquiries in sustainable construction and the built environment, including construction management, net-zero and low-carbon construction, climate-resilient and sustainable infrastructure, construction materials, engineering sustainability, circular economy and resource management, construction safety, renewable energy, artificial intelligence and digitalisation in construction, Construction 4.0, sustainable digital infrastructure, green engineering skills, and sustainability-related innovation in higher education. Interdisciplinary proposals linking the built environment with digital technologies, sustainability, policy, skills or wider societal challenges are particularly welcome.

Recent Projects/Grants/Awards:

2026-2027

1. Unlocking Informal Green Engineering Skills in Africa: A Comparative Pilot for Scalable Recognition Pathways. A collaboration with GIZ Kenya, Leaf Life Solutions, Kenya, National Industrial Training Authority, Kenya, 3N ENGTECH Innovations Consultancy Limited, Uganda and Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Solutions, Ghana. Funded by Royal Academy of Engineering, UK.

2. Strengthening systems to improve the quality and efficiency of Higher Education Institutions in Coahuila, Mexico. Funded by British Council’s HE Connects 2025 programme.

3. Compostpulse: Modular, Intelligence Ready Composting Infrastructure for Urban Organic Waste in Kenya. A collaboration with MURIMI Farm, Kenya, Xelerator Au, Kenya, Compost Pulse Limited, Kenya,  Buji Drones, Kenya.  Funded by Royal Academy of Engineering, UK. 

4. Bridging the Recognition Gap: Participatory Certification for Informal Electrical Practitioners in Uganda. A collaboration with 3N ENGTECH Innovations Consultancy Limited, Uganda, TVET Systems & Workforce, Keeya and Nyilando Group of Companies, Uganda. Funded by Royal Academy of Engineering, UK. 

5. Awardee British Academy leadership Programme. Funded by British Academy, UK.

2025-2026

1. Enhancing HPC Adoption Through User-Centred Design: A Roadmap for Inclusive Innovation in Environment, Health, and the Built Environment. Funded by UKRI (EPSRC), National Federated Compute Services NetworkPlus.

2. Towards Net-Zero And Circular Federation: Evidence And Policy For Carbon-Aware Compute Using The Built Environment As A Pilot. Funded by UKRI (EPSRC), National Federated Compute Services NetworkPlus.

2024-2025
1. Building Psychological Resilience in Women Leaders: Strengthening Support Systems in Malaysian and Indonesian Universities - Southeast Asia-UK Gender Challenge Grant. A collaboration with University of Malaya, Malaysia and Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. Funded by Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Centre specialising in higher education and development (RIHED), Thailand.   

2. Developing Inclusive Policies and Practices for Greater Accessibility in Higher Education. UK-Indonesia Disability Inclusion Partnerships Grant. A collaboration with Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama (UNU) Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Funded by British Council, Indonesia.

2023-2024
1. Improving Soft Skills, Learning outcomes and employability of Women students, graduates, and early career professionals in STEM. UK – Americas Partnerships for TNE and Internationalisation – A collaboration with Universidad Politécnica de Ramos Arizpe (UPRA), Mexico. Funded by British Council, Mexico.  

2. Developing Transnational Education (TNE) Partnership with Kazakh National Research Technical University (Satbayev University). Funded by British Council, Kazakhstan. 

3. Vice Chancellor's Mid-Career Accelerator Programme (2023‐2025). Funded by the University of the West of England, UK.

2022-2023
1. Public/ Community Engagement and Knowledge Exchange: Workshop on Carbon Reduction: Do your bit for Net Zero Target. University of the West of England, UK.

2. Special Issue "Challenges of Renewable Energy in Developing Countries", Energies, MDPI.

2021-2022
1. BAME Staff Network Project, Celebrating BAME Excellence in Kingston University, Kingston University, London, UK.

Publications

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