M Zakwan Arab

Role

I am a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in Civil Engineering within the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). I teach across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, focusing on integrating theoretical principles with practical, industry-based applications. My teaching areas include Engineering Materials, Water Resources and Environment, Surveying and Measurement, Strategic and Operational Management, Managing Organisation and Projects in Civil Engineering, Simulation and Modelling in CE.

As Course Leader, I am responsible for the academic quality, delivery, and strategic development of the Civil Engineering programmes. My role involves managing the course in daily basis, aligning curricula with professional body accreditation requirements (ICE, CIOB, and JBM), and ensuring our courses reflect current industry practices and emerging technologies.

My research interests lie primarily in the areas of sustainable construction materials, cost modelling, and machine learning applications in construction management. I am currently investigating the use of additives such as H-EVA and UKR to replace part of the cement in concrete in order to develop low-carbon concrete. Additionally, I am exploring the incorporation of recycled plastic waste in concrete and the use of predictive machine learning techniques to optimise the rate of penetration in offshore wind turbine foundation construction.

Career overview

I have built an extensive academic and professional career in civil engineering and construction management, combining teaching, research, and industry experience across the UK and the Middle East. I joined Nottingham Trent University (NTU) in 2015, where I currently serve as a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in Civil Engineering and Construction Management within the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment.

Before joining NTU, I was the Course Manager in Construction at Moulton College (in partnership with the University of Northampton) from 2013 to 2015, where I led curriculum development, managed course delivery, and oversaw quality assurance processes for construction-related programmes.

My earlier academic experience includes working as a Teaching Assistant at Damascus University (2000–2001 and 2003–2004), and later as a Tutor for the Student Disability Service at Heriot-Watt University (2006–2011). From 2008 to 2013, I also served as an External Assessor for Distance Learning programmes at Heriot-Watt University, contributing to course evaluation and student assessment for international learners.

In parallel with my academic career, I have gained valuable professional experience within the construction industry. I worked as a Site Engineer for Mustafa Contractor in Syria (1999–2001), and later as a Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor for Sait Group in Saudi Arabia for two years, managing large-scale projects and overseeing construction operations.

Throughout my career, I have maintained a strong focus on teaching excellence, sustainable construction, and applied research, particularly in the areas of greener concrete technologies, machine learning applications in construction, and cost estimation modelling. My combined industry and academic experience continue to inform my teaching, research, and leadership at NTU, ensuring that my work remains closely aligned with professional practice and evolving global challenges in the built environment.