Dr Vasileios Samaras

Senior Lecturer in Employability and year in industry

Civil Engineering

v.samaras@swansea.ac.uk

Academic Office - A_021
Ground Floor
Engineering Central
Bay Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

About

Dr. Vasilios Samaras is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Swansea University, where he is a member of the Engineering Employability team. Currently, he holds the position of Programme Director for the MSc in Engineering Leadership Managment and serves as the Coordinator for the MSc in Engineering with Year in Industry within the same faculty.

Dr. Samaras holds esteemed titles of Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (FIMEchE) in the United Kingdom. He actively participates as a professional reviewer within the institute, contributing his expertise and insights to the evaluation process. He is additionally affiliated with Federation of European Association National Engineers (FEANI) and International Professional Engineers (IntPE). He is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

With over fourteen years of experience in working with large diameter thermoplastic pipe systems, Dr. Samaras has played a significant role in the structural design of notable projects related to flood alleviation on a large scale, sewage treatment works, and marine pipelines both within the UK and worldwide. His expertise has resulted in the publication of numerous technical articles in renowned journals related to the water and construction industries. Furthermore, he has collaborated with others to co-author and present papers at esteemed European and International conferences in relations to the structural and environmental performance of plastic pipe systems.

Dr. Samaras actively contributes to the BSI (British Standards Institute) committee dedicated to buried pipe design where he acts as an independent expert. He plays an integral role in shaping the standards and guidelines in this field. Additionally, he has served as an expert evaluator for the European Commission, specifically involved in evaluating projects related to water innovation and demonstration under the FP7 Evaluation Water Innovation and Demo, as well as the Horizon2020 Water Innovation Programme.

In addition to his engineering qualifications, Dr. Samaras holds an MBA and has previously been deeply involved in reviewing and establishing business strategies.

Areas Of Expertise

Plastics Extrusion
Extrusion jointing strength
Structural design of buried pipes
Environmental performance of thermoplastic systems
Engineering management
Business Strategy

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

EG-233 Placement Preparation: Engineering Industrial Year

EG-E01 Industrial Placement Year (Engineering)

EG-M39 – MSc Industrial Experience (Engineering)

EGSM21 - Leadership and Complexity (MSc ELM)

EGSM35 - Strategy (MSc ELM)

Find out more about the MSc Engineering Leadership and Management plus our MSc with Industry.

Research Collaborations

Publications

Research Highlights

Wood, C., Matsenjwa, B., Hada, J., Rolland, S., Samaras, V., Jones, J., Bunting, G., & Hobson, I. (2024). Industry Academic Partnerships Leading to Better Preparation of Graduates for Employment. In Rohit Kandakatla, Sushma Kulkarni, Michael E. Auer (Ed.), Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems (pp. 183-203). Springer Nature Switzerland
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-68282-7_10, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67928

All Research

Book Chapters

Wood, C., Matsenjwa, B., Hada, J., Rolland, S., Samaras, V., Jones, J., Bunting, G., & Hobson, I. (2024). Industry Academic Partnerships Leading to Better Preparation of Graduates for Employment. In Rohit Kandakatla, Sushma Kulkarni, Michael E. Auer (Ed.), Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems (pp. 183-203). Springer Nature Switzerland
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-68282-7_10, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67928

Supervision

What Critical Reforms are Required for Achieving Genuine Sustainability Across the UK Construction Sector.«br /»«br /» «br /»«br /» Title has been change to reflect in a more holistic approach the work of the student (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Gareth Davies
Amphibian Friendly Gully Design (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Kevin Arbuckle
A Behavioural Approach to Develop Sustainability Leadership : Exploring Personal and Industrial Influences on Saudi Engineers in Saudi Arabia's Manufacturing Sector (awarded 2024)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Frederic Boy

Other supervisor: Dr Catherine Groves

Other supervisor: Dr Clare Wood

Taught Modules

EG-135 Placement Preparation: Science and Engineering Year in Industry

This generic cross-disciplinary module is for all students who have enrolled (or transferred) onto the Faculty of Science and Engineering Year in Industry scheme. The module focuses on the underpinning and fundamental requisites required to gain, enter and progress effectively through an industrial placement. Learners will be introduced to a) sourcing placements, CV writing and application techniques; (b) interview techniques - how to pitch yourself and be successful; (c) workplace fundamentals and IP awareness, behaviours and expectations; and (d) key employability skills; getting the most from your Industrial Placement.
EG-233 Placement Preparation: Engineering Industrial Year

This generic cross-disciplinary module is for all students who have enrolled (or transferred) onto the Engineering Year in Industry scheme. The module focuses on the underpinning and fundamental requisites required to gain, enter and progress effectively through an industrial placement. Learners will be introduced to a) sourcing placements, CV writing and application techniques; (b) interview techniques - how to pitch yourself and be successful; (c) workplace fundamentals and IP awareness, behaviours and expectations; (d) key employability skills; getting the most from your Industrial Placement; and (e) health and safety in the workplace.
EG-D09 MSc Engineering Leadership and Management Project

The Module aims to develop the ability of the Student to construct a viable strategic plan for the chosen organisational challenge, with arguments developed using the theoretical techniques covered in the program. The final ambition of the strategic plan i.e the synopsis will be developed by the student and signed off by the dissertation mentor. The hurdle rate being defined by AHEP 4 learning outcomes. There is an expectation that key research skills will be deployed supporting the outcomes reached.
EG-E01 Industrial Placement Year (Engineering)

The industrial placement year (often referred to as the Year in Industry) takes place after Year 2 for BEng students and after Year 2 or Year 3 for MEng students. Students may enrol on programmes with an industrial placement year at the beginning of their studies, subject to appropriate enhanced entry qualifications, or may transfer to such a programme at the start of Year 2 (for BEng students) or at the start of Year 2/Year 3 (for MEng students). Year in Industry preparation starts in Year 1, students on the year in industry schemes are required to attend placement preparation activities in year 1, TB2. CVs will be submitted and vetted in Year 1. In Year 2 students are required to attend preparatory lectures, that cover various topics, such as job applications, interview techniques, telephone interviews, etc. Please note that these lectures are delivered in Year 2 in EG-233. MEng students are permitted to take their intercalary year after Year 2 or Year 3; however the preparatory sessions are only run in Year 2, this is due to timetabling matters. The onus to apply and find a placement is that of the student. If successful in attaining a placement, a student will complete a minimum of 40 weeks in a paid placement in companies across the UK or abroad. All placements sourced by the students are subject to the University's approval to be registered as a year in industry, notably, health and safety information, and role description will need to be disclosed by the placement host and scrutinised. The aim of the module is to document the student¿s professional development along the Engineering Council UK-SPEC guidelines. The mode of assessment is described in the relevant section.
EG-M194 MSc Industrial Experience Preparation

This module aims to prepare students for the 60 credit industrial experience module - EG-M39 MSc Industrial Experience which is required as part of the MSc with Industry programmes. Preparation will include meetings with the assigned academic staff member who will act as supervisor for the industrial experience module and they will guide students via weekly interactions.
EG-M39 MSc Industrial Experience

This module provides industrial experience within an Engineering context in the UK. The experience will be gained through a 32 week industrial placement, at least part of which will be spent within the University on a collaborative R&D project undertaken with significant industrial collaboration. Some of the placement may be spent in a paid industrial role in some cases. The module will be assessed on a pass / fail basis against criteria matching the some of the Engineering Council's requirements for professional engineering recognition in the UK.
EGSM21 Leadership and Complexity Management (ELM)

One of the key skills identified by employers in all sectors and for life in general is the ability to work in a team and to be able to lead! Additionally, there are a number of other skills and traits required or to at least be aware of, to be most effective in these capacities. Effective communication will be promoted throughout the module, in terms of leadership and team work alongside engagement with internal and external stakeholders, to include such areas as sales, marketing and personal branding. At the end of this course students will be able to recognise and understand key characteristics of leadership as well as a wide range of strategic business skills, ideas and theories with emphasis on innovation and ¿entrepreneurial thinking¿ which is essential for the current multidisciplinary engineering environment. The course delivery integrates practical project work and academic rigour.
EGSM35 Strategy

The module will give an insight into the origins of strategy formation using examples where success has followed and perhaps those that have not. Clearly Strategy has military connotations and history is peppered with classic examples. Moving then onto modern day organizations, the module will walk the candidates through all the key elements associated with effective design, management and deployment of strategy. As potential Leaders, it is important that an understanding of the likely roles they will play in the future is delivered. This will be effected by a program that has sound theoretical anchors and uses real life examples through case studies of organizations to explore and critique the plans.

Career History

Technical Director, Asset International Ltd, Newport, Wales

January 2015 - July 2019
Product Manager, Asset International Ltd, Newport, Wales

October 2009 - December 2014
Technical/ Senior Technical Engineer, Asset International Ltd, Newport, Wales

October 2005 - September 2009

Other Roles

Programme Director, MSc in Engineering Leadership Management, MSc ELM, Swansea University

2019 - Present
MSc Coordinator, MSc in Engineering with Year in Industry, MSc Engineering with YII, Swansea University

2019 - Present

Affiliated Positions

Independent Expert British Standard Institute (BSI), BSI - Buried Pipe Group

2012 - Present

Dr Vasileios Samaras

Email address

LinkedIn Account

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Book Chapters

Supervision

What Critical Reforms are Required for Achieving Genuine Sustainability Across the UK Construction Sector.«br /»«br /» «br /»«br /» Title has been change to reflect in a more holistic approach the work of the student (current)

Amphibian Friendly Gully Design (current)

A Behavioural Approach to Develop Sustainability Leadership : Exploring Personal and Industrial Influences on Saudi Engineers in Saudi Arabia's Manufacturing Sector (awarded 2024)

Taught Modules

EG-135 Placement Preparation: Science and Engineering Year in Industry

EG-233 Placement Preparation: Engineering Industrial Year

EG-D09 MSc Engineering Leadership and Management Project

EG-E01 Industrial Placement Year (Engineering)

EG-M194 MSc Industrial Experience Preparation

EG-M39 MSc Industrial Experience

EGSM21 Leadership and Complexity Management (ELM)

EGSM35 Strategy

Career History

Technical Director, Asset International Ltd, Newport, Wales

Product Manager, Asset International Ltd, Newport, Wales

Technical/ Senior Technical Engineer, Asset International Ltd, Newport, Wales

Other Roles

Programme Director, MSc in Engineering Leadership Management, MSc ELM, Swansea University

MSc Coordinator, MSc in Engineering with Year in Industry, MSc Engineering with YII, Swansea University

Affiliated Positions

Independent Expert British Standard Institute (BSI), BSI - Buried Pipe Group