STEM Inclusivity Champions: Adnan Ilyas

Continuing our 'STEM inclusivity champions' series, we ask Heriot-Watt alumni who are role models for underrepresented groups in STEM to share their journey, achievements, and advice, as inspiration to others in the STEM community.

In this instalment we hear from Dr Adnan Ilyas, Associate Professor in the School of Engineering & Physical Sciences.

A Place to Learn, A Place to Grow: My Life at Heriot-Watt

My journey at Heriot-Watt University began in 2008, when I arrived as an international student to study engineering. Since then, Heriot-Watt has been more than just a place of study or work. It has been the foundation of my academic, personal and professional identity for the past 17 years. Today, I serve as an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering & Physical Sciences and hold several leadership roles including Deputy Head of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering department, Chair of the School Discipline Committee, and Graduate Apprenticeship Lead for the School. My connection to this community runs far deeper than any job title. It has shaped my journey in STEM and continues to inspire my commitment to inclusive education and leadership.

A Career That Grew from Campus Roots

For the first 10 years of my time at Heriot-Watt, I lived on campus. Those years spanning my undergraduate (BEng Hons) and postgraduate studies (MSc & PhD) were not only formative in terms of academic development but also in cultivating empathy, resilience, and a deep appreciation for diverse experiences across the university community.

As a student and Senior Warden in the Residence Life team, I worked at the intersection of pastoral care, community-building, and wellbeing. I led the team of wardens and collaborated closely with university services such as Student Wellbeing, Chaplaincy, the Student Union, and Safeguarding. Together, we created a safer, more inclusive environment for students many of whom, like me, were navigating a new country, culture, and academic system. These experiences profoundly shaped my belief that inclusion begins with feeling seen, supported, and safe.

Cross-Cultural Connections and the Power of Representation

One of the most meaningful roles I’ve held was as Social and Cultural Programme Manager for the Pre-sessional English programme over a few summers. Supporting international students at the start of their Heriot-Watt journey, I organised cultural trips and events to help them build connections and feel welcomed.

I still remember the ceilidhs, city tours, and heartfelt conversations. These were not just fun social moments. they were acts of inclusion. For many, including myself, being seen and valued in a new space makes all the difference in building confidence where you might not see many people who look or sound like you.

Representation, empathy, and intentional community building are not optional extras in academia, they are the foundations that allow talent to grow and thrive. I’ve seen firsthand how students from underrepresented groups including women in engineering, neurodivergent learners, and those from low-income backgrounds flourish when given the right support.

Wearing Many Hats, With One Purpose: Equity

From my early part-time job at Marks and Spencer, where I served as Regional Chair of the Business Involvement Group, to my current role as an office bearer for the University and College Union branch committee, I’ve always been driven by a passion for equity, voice, and fairness. Whether representing staff interests, championing wellbeing, supporting student success, or leading initiatives through the school/department, my purpose has remained constant. I aim to help build teams that are inclusive, responsive, and empowering for everyone.

As a member of the University Senate, I contribute to academic governance with a focus on ensuring decisions reflect the needs of our diverse student and staff communities. This work is not separate from my identity as an academic and STEM professional; it is deeply interwoven.

In my teaching, I strive to create learning environments where students feel safe to ask questions and challenge ideas. I have worked to embed inclusive practices into curriculum design, offering flexible assessment formats that meet varied learning needs.

Mentoring the Next Generation

Mentorship is a core part of how I give back. I currently mentor a high school pupil through the Career Ready scheme, which supports young people from underrepresented backgrounds to develop workplace skills and confidence. This involves regular one-to-one mentoring, a summer internship, and guidance on navigating higher education and career pathways.

I also mentor early-career academics and doctoral researchers, offering not just academic support but also a sense of belonging and encouragement. I know how isolating academia can feel, and I aim to be the kind of mentor I once needed.

Lifelong Learning, Lifelong Courage

In 2023, I learned to swim for the first time. To many, this might seem small, but for me, it was transformational. It was a reminder that growth can happen at any stage and that fear should never be a barrier to trying.

This mindset underpins how I teach, mentor, and lead. I know how intimidating academia can feel when you’re the first, the only, or the outsider. But I also know that with the right encouragement, every barrier becomes an invitation to rise.

Inspired by People, Every Day

I don’t have a single role model. I am inspired every day by the people I work with, colleagues who lead with empathy, show up for students, and create inclusive environments without always realising the impact they make.

Inclusivity isn’t just about big gestures, it’s in the quiet consistency of listening, adapting, and caring. It’s in changing the language in your course notes, offering flexible assessment, or recognising when a student needs extra time or support. It’s also in challenging systemic barriers from unconscious bias in recruitment to the lack of diverse role models in senior academic positions and working to dismantle them.

STEM Belongs to Everyone

For me, inclusivity means ensuring all students and staff feel a genuine sense of belonging in STEM regardless of their gender, race, socio-economic background, disability, sexual orientation, or educational path. It means celebrating non-traditional journeys, acknowledging that diversity strengthens problem-solving and innovation, and ensuring that policies are matched by lived practices. We must constantly ask: Who is missing from this space? And then act to remove the barriers keeping them out as every voice matters.

To Those at the Start of Their Journey

If you are just beginning your journey at Heriot-Watt, know this: you belong here. Not despite your differences, but because of them. Your unique voice, your perspective, your questions, and your courage are needed. It is not always a straight path but with curiosity, support, and community, it can be a transformative one.

Seventeen years ago, I stepped onto campus uncertain of what lay ahead. Today, I am proud to say that Heriot-Watt did not just shape my career, it gave me a purpose. To teach, to lead, and to champion inclusion so that more people can see themselves in these spaces and know they are home.