Sara Hassan

Sara is an Associate Professor in Software Engineer and a Senior Fellow of Advance HE (SFHEA). She received her PhD in Computer Science from the University of Birmingham in 2019, following an MEng in Computer Science with Software Engineering in 2015.

Her work combines software engineering, authentic and industry-informed assessment, digital inclusion, digital twinning, and mental-health-aware software design. She was co-investigator on the £7.7m Innovate UK DIATOMIC project (here), where she co-managed work on digital twinning solutions for traffic and air quality challenges in the West Midlands, working with regional organisations and SMEs.

Sara leads the BSc Computer Science course and the second-year Software Design module. Her teaching focuses on authentic, industry-informed learning, with students working on real challenges co-developed with enterprise partners. She has shared this approach nationally through Advance HE and is a member of the IBM UK Academic Council.

Alongside her teaching and research, Sara co-leads the Henderson Scholars Programme (here), supporting opportunities for students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds and encouraging student entrepreneurship. She has also led Equality, Diversity and Inclusion activity within Computer Science, including the Department’s first Athena Swan Bronze Award, and continues to mentor staff and postgraduate researchers across teaching, research and leadership.