Ayman Elnaggar

Associate Professor of Teaching

Electrical, Engineering, School of Engineering

Other Titles: Coordinator of Mechatronics Engineering
Office: EME4261
Email: ayman.elnaggar@ubc.ca

Research Summary

Engineering Education:
Conducting fundamental research on engineering education and bridging research and practice; Identifying the reasons why effective practices work; Assessing how students learn, and moving those findings into the classrooms of tomorrow's engineers; Mental Health and Well-being of students.

Courses & Teaching

Real-Time Embedded Systems Design; Advanced Digital Systems Design; Microcomputer Engineering (Embedded Systems & Microprocessor Interfacing); Digital Logic Design; Electric Circuits & Power; Numerical Methods for Engineers.

Biography

Professor Elnaggar has more than 30 years of industrial and academic experience locally and internationally. He received his PhD from UBC in 1997. He has an impressive industrial and professorship career by working in leading computer, telecom, and semiconductors companies such as IBM, Northern Telecom (Nortel), and PMC-Sierra (is now Microsemi corp.), and in different universities in UAE, Oman, and Egypt. He was promoted to the full professor rank in computer engineering in 2009. In 2014, Professor Elnaggar started his new tenure track career in engineering education with UBC Okanagan. He has developed and taught many undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the areas of Embedded and Digital System Designs, Computer Architecture and Organization, and Computer Networks.

He is the founder of the interdisciplinary Mechatronics Engineering at the School of Engineering (established in 2017). Since then he has been coordinating its activities with different stakeholders.

Professor Elnaggar is very innovative in developing strategic academic partnership with different stakeholders. He has initiated and coordinated many academic programs of leading technology providers and industries such as Intel Embedded, ARM University, Cisco Academy, Altera University (is now Intel FPGAs), and Xilinx University Programs. He has proven records of engaging industries in the development and the co-delivery of his courses. He was also the lead person to establish the Dual-Credit Program at UBC and at the School of Engineering in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and School District 23.

Professor Elnaggar has developed and coordinated many initiatives that improved students’ mental health and wellbeing such as coordinating midterm exams at the school of engineering. In 2018, he advocated, lobbied, and lead the development of the proposal to introduce a “Fall Reading Week” and extended winter break to UBC community. His proposal, including the recommended policy changes, has been recognized by the Senate Curriculum Committees on both campuses as well as by the Provost office at UBCO. The proposal formed the foundation of the subsequent drafts that were finally approved by the Senate in May, 2021. the “Fall Reading Week” was inaugrated at UBC in Fall 2021.

Professor Elnaggar is also the team lead and the recipient of 2020’s Aspire Learning Transformations (ALT-2040) Fund of $100,000 from the Provost office to lead the development of innovative flexible learning modules that allow students at the school of engineering to follow different learning pathways that qualify for Micro-credentials and industry recognized certifications.

Professor Elnaggar was the recepient of the 2022 prestigious Provost’s Award in Teaching Excellence and Innovation. His current research interests are in the area of engineering education.

Websites

Degrees

PhD – Computer Engineering (UBC, Vancouver)
BSc – Communications & Electronics Engineering (Cairo University)

Selected Publications & Presentations

1. Ayman Elnaggar & Megan Lochhead, “Towards a Fall Wellbeing Week at UBC,” 2019 Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA-ACEG19) Conference, University of Ottawa; June 9-12, 2019.
2. Ayman Elnaggar, “Industry-University Collaboration in Course Development and Delivery: A Case Study at the School of Engineering, UBC,” 14^th Annual Learning Conference, UBC, May 2-3, 2018.
3. Claire Yan, Ayman Elnaggar, “Using Formative Feedback to Encourage Student Engagement in Engineering Classes,” 13^th Annual Learning Conference, UBC, May 3-4, 2017.
4. Jannik Eikenaar, Ayman Elnaggar, and Megan Lochhead, “Coordinating Assessments at the School of Engineering,” 13^th Annual Learning Conference, UBC, May 3-4, 2017.
5. Ayman Elnaggar, “Improving Math Skills for First Year Students,” 11^th Annual Learning Conference, UBC, 2015.

Selected Grants & Awards

Awards
– 2022 Provost Award in Teaching Excellence and Innovation
– Outstanding Service Award, School of Engineering, UBC, (2019)
– Pioneer Award for Excellence in Teaching, School of Engineering, UBC, (2018)
– Educational Leadership Award, School of Engineering, UBC, (2018)
– Outstanding Service Award, School of Engineering, UBC, (2017)

Media