Christopher Howard

Course Director

Digital, Tech, Innovation & Business

I am a networking professional with over 30 years’ experience in the technical and academic field. I am a Chartered Electronics Engineer with extensive network and communication expertise, and am involved in the leadership and management of courses, curriculum design and apprenticeships.  I am responsible for international partner relations, quality assurance, staff development and recruitment in Greece, China and Vietnam.

I am a dedicated and enthusiastic supporter of continuing education and training. I am a member of the teaching team at Staffordshire University, Course Director for Cyber and Networks at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I designed, implemented and delivered this course in addition to the Undergraduate version.  I have also developed a series of Flexible learning awards for part time students based around CCNA, CCNP and CCNA Security qualifications, and run the University’s Cisco Academy.

My background is that of electronics having worked in R&D and Field Engineering/Commissioning, gaining CEng status in 2006. Example projects were commissioning networked baggage handling systems at two international UK airports, commissioning and on-call duties for airport runway lighting systems and bottling/canning plants for a major soft drinks firm. Also involved in gas spectrometry and X-ray diffractometry. Specialist area was communication systems between control systems and management information systems. In R&D was involved in designing satellite amplifiers and AC inverter drive systems. A number of consultancies have been undertaken on network audits (wired and wireless) network appliance OS upgrades and installation of new/upgraded systems. I co-developed the digital apprenticeship program and designed the higher apprentice degree for Staffordshire University and also developed and delivered a number of bespoke short courses.

I am also a STEM associate facilitator for the computer at school’s provision.

 

 

Professional memberships and activities

CEng

Member of the Engineering Council

Member of the Institute of Engineering and technology (IET)

Member of the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM)

Academic qualifications

  • PgDip in Educational Management, Manchester Metropolitan University
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Higher and Professional Education, Manchester University
  • BEng (Hons) Computers, Management & Electronics, University of Salford

Expertise

  • Network design
  • Quality of Service
  • Network optimisation
  • Cyber security
  • Network security
  • CCNA and CCNP instructor

Research interests

  • Computer networks
  • Info/Infra security
  • HTM/CLA
  • Education
  • Quality of Service



Enterprise and commercial interests

I have completed network and security audits.

I have extensive experience of working with both UK and International partners.

I have designed bespoke training courses for the MoD.

Teaching

Undergraduate

  • Network Security
  • Cyber Operations
  • Networking concepts
  • Advanced Routing and Switching
  • Network troubleshooting
  • Commercial computing
  • Individual projects

Postgraduate

  • Network Security
  • Cyber Operations
  • Advanced Routing and Switching
  • Network troubleshooting
  • Individual projects

Publications

Stanier, C., Howard, C., Wilson E. (2018) Developing an Undergraduate Computer Science Curriculum; Embedding professionalism. ICERI2018 Proceedings. pp. 7542-7548. ISSN 2340-1095

Alshammari, T., Alshammari, N., Sedky, M., Howard, C., 2018, SIMADL: Simulated Activities of Daily Living Dataset. Data2018, 3, 11.

Alshammari, T., Alshammari, N., Sedky, M., Howard, C., 2018, Evaluating Machine Learning Techniques for Activity Classification in Smart Home Environments; ICICE 2018: 20th International Conference on information and Communication Engineering; 13th Feb 2018

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021