Dr Maria Unuigbe

Maria leads the development and delivery of climate change and sustainability-related modules across the BSc Architecture programme as well as teaching across other architectural modules at both undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) levels. Through her pedagogic approach, which is underpinned by ‘ students as partners’ and informed by her multidisciplinary practice experience, Maria promotes collaborative learning, subject inquiry, and pedagogical consultancy in both subject-specific and cross-disciplinary programmes.

In addition to her scholarship in teaching and learning, Maria is currently a PhD supervisor and an internal PhD examiner, as well as part of internal and external research committees, clusters, and steering groups. She is currently a member of the Research and Knowledge Exchange - Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (RKE EDI) group and part of the steering committee for the Institute for Planetary Resilience and Community Transformation (PACT) at the University.

Her specialism and research interest are closely aligned and revolve around themes of sustainable transitions toward a more equitable and just society. Maria’s research interest are in Sustainable Development (as it relates to Education and the Built Environment), Energy Transition (community use and behaviour; fuel poverty; renewable energy), Design Practices (with specific focus on the developing context), Research Methods (the use of Grounded Theory in Construction Research).

Maria has been involved in various collaborative and multidisciplinary research projects, funding proposals, and externally funded projects. She has published in various high-impact academic journals and international peer-reviewed conference proceedings. She has also presented at international conferences. She has been a reviewer and scientific committee member for journal, Special Issues, and international conferences.

Maria holds a PhD degree in Sustainability, MSc in Facilities Management, PG Dip (Masters equivalent) and BA (Hons) in Architecture, and an AMPM in Project Management, in addition to other professional and academic certifications. She previously worked at Leeds Beckett University (UK) where she taught and contributed to the review, development, and delivery of subject-specific and cross-course curriculum content related to taught and online Built Environment programmes at postgraduate (PG) and undergraduate (UG) levels, including architectural technology, facilities management, project/construction management, research methods, interprofessional studies, among others.

Prior to joining academia, she worked in professional practice in various capacities within the construction industry as a designer, architect, and project manager. Over the years, she has been involved in award-winning building projects and competitions. She also worked in the foremost global intergovernmental organisation; the United Nations (UN), within its Facilities Section.