Chika Judith Abolle-Okoyeagu
Chika Judith Abolle‑Okoyeagu is a Nigerian-born academic and engineer. She is an Associate Professor and Head of Postgraduate Taught Studies at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, United Kingdom. Her research focuses on engineering education, gender equity in STEM, and structural health monitoring. She is among the Top 50 Women in Engineering.
Education and career
Abolle‑Okoyeagu holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and is a Chartered Engineer. She is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE), a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), and a Fellow of the Women's Engineering Society (FWES). At Robert Gordon University, she has served in leadership roles including Head of the Department of Electronics & Electrical Engineering and Head of Postgraduate Studies.
Research
Abolle‑Okoyeagu's research spans engineering education, gender equity in STEM, and structural health monitoring. She has conducted experimental and numerical studies of acoustic emission (AE) sources and wave propagation in pipes, aimed at improving non-destructive testing and pipeline safety.
Her work also addresses retention and advancement of women in engineering, and the design of gender-inclusive curricula. She has co-authored studies examining factors that shape female representation in STEM careers in Nigeria.
In addition, she has published research datasets on engineering student perceptions of artificial intelligence in education, supporting studies in technology acceptance and educational innovation.
She has also contributed to peer-reviewed conference proceedings, including:
- Bridging Borders in Engineering Education: An Analysis of Collaborative Online International Learning for Sustainable Development (2024).
- Embedding Sustainability in Engineering Education (2025).
Selected publications
- Abolle-Okoyeagu, Chika Judith; Ezenkwu, C. P.; Ibeke, E.; Onoja, P. O.; Ezeonwumelu, V. U. (2026). “Engineering students and artificial intelligence in education: A technology acceptance study of perceptions and barriers”. Cogent Education. 13 (1): 2614148. Taylor & Francis. doi:10.1080/2331186X.2026.2614148.
- Abolle-Okoyeagu, Chika Judith; Fatukasi, S.; Reuben, B. (2024). “Measurement and simulation of the propagation of impulsive acoustic emission sources in pipes”. Acoustics. 6: 620–637. doi:10.3390/acoustics6010034.
- Abolle-Okoyeagu, Chika Judith; Mahon, R.; Okpu, A.; Chima-Amaeshi, N. (2024). “Bridging the gender gap in engineering: Strategies for retention and advancement of women in STEM fields”. In: Proceedings of the World Conference on Future of Education. doi:10.22323/1.453.0012.
Awards and recognition
- Outstanding Achievement Award - Science & Technology, 6th Scottish Women's Awards (2025).
- Top 50 Women in Engineering (WE50) laureate, 2024 (Women’s Engineering Society; theme: “Enhanced by Engineering”).