Dr Usman Abdullah

Usman Abdullah is a Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Course Director for Built Environment courses at CCCU. He leads and supports provision across Architecture and Built Environment, including BEng Building Services Engineering, BEng Architectural Engineering and MSc Construction Engineering Project Management.

His academic background is in mechanical engineering, with broad interdisciplinary teaching expertise across mechanical, manufacturing, electromechanical and built environment. He has 9+ years of experience in UK and overseas HEIs, with experience in course leadership, curriculum design, assessment development, quality assurance and continuous enhancement across Levels 4-7.

Usman joined CCCU in October 2022 and has held course leadership responsibilities across both Built Environment provision and the L6 Manufacturing Engineer Degree Apprenticeship. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Enterprise Fellowship Programme at CCCU, and holds a PhD in Design and Engineering from Bournemouth University. His doctoral research focused on finite element modelling of rolling bearing elements, undertaken in collaboration with Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, Germany. His wider research interests include computational fluid dynamics (CFD), finite element analysis, battery thermal management, sustainable engineering and digital modelling.

Outline of teaching areas at CCCU

• Thermofluids
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
• System Design
• Design Optimisation
• Integrated Electromechanical Systems
• Sustainable Manufacturing
• Human Factors for Healthy Buildings
• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Course leadership and curriculum development

• Course Director for Built Environment courses, including BEng Building Services Engineering, BEng Architectural Engineering and MSc Construction Engineering Project Management.
• Previous Course Director responsibility for the Level 6 Manufacturing Engineer Degree Apprenticeship.
• Supports curriculum delivery, course monitoring, student progression, module performance and internal/external stakeholder engagement.
• Contributes to programme validation, PSRB accreditation preparation, AHEP learning-outcome mapping and UK-SPEC alignment.
• Supports course enhancement through Course Performance Plans, student achievement data, progression information, student feedback and stakeholder input.
• Develops project-based learning and assessments aligned with authentic engineering problem-solving.
• Provides mentoring support for colleagues undertaking the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice.

Research interests and supervision

• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Finite Element Analysis
• Engineering design and simulation
• Tribology and lubrication
• Rolling bearing contact mechanics
• Automotive and mechanical systems
• Battery thermal management
• Second-life lithium-ion batteries
• Sustainable engineering systems

I have been involved in following research projects

• Finite element modelling of deep zone residual stresses in rolling contact bearing elements, PhD project, Funded by Schaeffler Group.
• Design and development of an engine test rig to investigate real engine heads under motored conditions (funded by British Petroleum ‘BP’ to investigate the slip-roll ratio in Audi TDI engine)
• Evaluation of Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coatings on direct-acting bucket type valvetrain in a real production engine head (University of Malaya)
• Development of a novel technique to measure Instantaneous frictional torque at direct-acting roller finger follower valvetrain configuration with the effect of Wonder Process Craft (WPC) surface treatment (Fuji Manufacturing Co., Ltd)

ORCID: 0000-0002-2625-8232.