Dr Ope Dele-Ajayi

Opeyemi is a Lecturer in the department of Computer and Information Sciences. His research interests include user-centred and inclusive design, digital literacy, technology-enhanced learning and human-computer interaction. His research particular explores the role of technology in enhancing teaching and learning in low-income countries, and how technology can be used to prepare young people for the future of work. Currently, he teaches modules related to Web Technologies and Systems Analysis and supervises graduate and postgraduate projects around augmented reality, virtual reality, serious games design and technology-enhanced learning. 

Previously, Opeyemi was a Senior Research Fellow with the Northumbria University Digital Learning Lab NUDLL (https://www.nudll.com/) in the Computer and Information Sciences Department where he worked as a named researcher on the AHRC-GCRF LeaPS project (www.leapsgcrf.com) with partners in Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi and Ethiopia. The primary goal of the project was to explore how digitised cultural heritage content can be used in school education and can subsequently contribute to sustainable development, especially in promoting tourism, health and wellbeing of people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Between 2015 and 2017, Opeyemi worked as a senior research assistant with NUSTEM (www.nustem.uk), a widening participation outreach project from the faculty of engineering and environment. While with NUSTEM, he helped develop tools to capture all kinds of data from their STEM activities and interventions, and led on analysing and evaluating data from secondary schools to inform the level of science capital amongst young people in the north-east region.

Currently, he is the PI of the DIGISTEM Project (https://digistem.co) - a STEM and Digital Education outreach project in Nigeria, funded by the World Bank. The project aims to widen the STEM aspirations of young people in primary schools, introduce and encourage digital skills and careers among young people in secondary schools and support teachers' adoption of edtech in the classroom. He is also currently the lead researcher on the Microsoft-sponsored BDEI project (https://www.bdei.org) that aims to reach 500,000 young people in Nigeria with basic digital skills. 

Opeyemi obtained his Bachelor of Technology (in Computer Science) from the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Nigeria, and his MSc (in Information Science) from the University of Sunderland, United Kingdom. Opeyemi’s PhD work, completed in 2017 explored how digital educational games could contribute to a more engaging experience in mathematics' classrooms in Nigeria.