Empowering women in engineering: Ayesha Iqbal

This article originally appeared in the July'24 magazine issue of Electronic Specifier Design – see ES's Magazine Archives for more featured publications.

A lifelong love of electrical engineering

Ayesha's academic journey began in Pakistan, where she originally considered becoming a doctor. However, she weighed this career and the lifestyle it would encompass against her love of engineering, and she instead chose to complete her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Electrical Engineering, specialising in electronics and telecommunications. 

Over the next nine years, she taught undergraduate Electrical Engineering courses and supervised numerous final-year projects in Pakistan, some of which were published in international conferences. It is this dual role in teaching and research that set the foundation for her future endeavours. 

Upon moving to the UK, Iqbal continued her passion and career in education, taking on roles as a lecturer and curriculum lead at Bedford College. Quickly adapting to the UK’s education system, Iqbal developed new courses and teaching materials for students of different levels and abilities. Her work also included implementing outcome-based education and improving teaching methodologies to better engage students. 

"I was developing new courses [at Bedford College], as well as new teaching materials and trying to improvise the engineering courses, teaching methodologies, and improvising the systems and so on. Eventually I joined MTC who are a manufacturing company, and part of Catapult UK, and they have a training centre where I work as their trainer in engineering." 

Currently, at the MTC, Iqbal trains apprentices at Level 4 HNC, developing new units and ensuring the continuous improvement of engineering education. Her role is not limited to teaching however, it also extends to curriculum development, adapting to new technologies, and integrating these into the learning environment. 

Improvement, a motivation for improving

"Continuous improvement motivates me. Whenever you join an institution, for example – I have now worked at three different institutions as a lecturer or trainer ... there is always continuous improvement to meet learning needs and introduce new learning methods and systems," she shares. “There is a constant need to update the curriculum and theory and practical contents in order to keep up with the latest research, equipment and applications in the field of engineering.” 

Iqbal’s forward thinking and inquisitive nature, and her journey into training is something that is deeply influenced by her father's academic legacy. 

"My father was himself a PhD doctor, he was a Professor of Education and a Professor of Science Education. So, training the future educators, specifically to prepare them to teach science subjects is probably where my teaching [inspiration] comes from." 

This background instilled in her a passion for education and a commitment to inspiring the next generation of engineers and also to continue to pursue her passions, as she is currently studying her PhD in electrical engineering. 

An accomplished academic

Iqbal has published multiple research papers, served as a reviewer for various prestigious journals, and delivered keynote talks, including one on ‘The Rise of AI’ at the European Women in Tech Conference 2023.

This year, she will speak again at the conference, focusing on the transformative potential of 6G technology in robotics. 

Explaining how 6G’s ultra-reliable low-latency communication will revolutionise robotics, Iqbal explains: "All real-time activities are more supported and faster ... precise and effective control is possible, not only of the robots but also of other remote-controlled devices. This will not only boost the efficiency and performance, but it will also improve production efficiency – especially if you incorporate AI with 6G in the robots." 

This integration of 6G technology with AI-powered robots could help enhance various sectors, from industrial automation to healthcare. 

"Robotic technology when combined with such high-speed networks ... can support healthcare systems as well the tele surgeries performed using robots. They are now a step forward and are moving towards robotic surgeries as well."

Promoting women in STEM

Ayesha’s dedication to promoting women in STEM fields is evident in her active involvement with the IEEE, particularly its Women in Engineering society.This platform has allowed her to mentor and inspire young women, breaking down barriers and challenging cultural norms.

Reflecting on her journey, she highlights the importance of role models: "I see young females look up to role models. When they see someone like them, they can think ‘okay, we can do that as well’. We should not let them think that this is not something for women."

Despite the progress made, Iqbal acknowledges that there is still a long way to go in achieving gender equality in engineering, and she believes that support from family and educational institutions is crucial in encouraging more women to enter the field.

"Family support is important … the numbers are improving, but there’s still a long way to go. That’s changing, I think, but we need to encourage more families to be supportive to break those barriers.”

Supporting this mantra in her academic and professional roles, Iqbal looks to create an inclusive and supportive environment for her female students and colleagues.

Beyond her immediate academic circle, Iqbal is also involved in community and educational initiatives aiming to inspire young girls to pursue careers in engineering and technology: "My niece is in school, she's in year eight, and she really likes coding, and she says ‘I want to become a robotics engineer,’ and that just makes me really happy."

Iqbal’s journey and dedication to engineering, the continuous improvement of self and education, and the promotion of gender equality in STEM alongside her work at MTC, contributions to research, and her efforts to inspire the next generation of engineers highlight the tremendous impact that one individual can have on the field of engineering and beyond.

And as she prepares to speak at the European Women in Tech Conference, Iqbal’s insights into the future of 6G and robotics will undoubtedly inspire many more to follow in her footsteps.