The Involvement of Industry in Engineering Programmes

1. The Involvement of Industry in Engineering Programmes Professor John Dickens Director Engineering Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Loughborough University, UK www.engcetl.ac.uk

2. Overview • Why should we involve industry, • National context • engCETL • Activities engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

3. Why involve industry? • Provides context for students • Promotes student engagement and motivation • Enhances student skills development • Provides work placement opportunities for students • Provides academics with up to date practice information and enhances the curriculum • Provides professional development for academics • Provides professional development for industry • Provides industry with access to potential employees engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

4. National Context Dearing Report (1997) • Work experience should be available to a greater number of students ‘SET for Success’ (2002) Sir Gareth Roberts’ Review identified the need for, • encouraging industrialists to spend time in universities • facilitating deeper academic staff interaction with industry and identifying that industry involvement has • the benefit of improving the attractiveness and relevance of the course to both students and employers. engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

5. National Context ‘The Future of Higher Education’ (2003) DfES • Establishing close relationships between employers in particular industrial sectors and the relevant faculties in institutions is critical to preparing new entrants to the workforce and to continuous professional development. HEFCE Strategic Plan 2006-11 • Employer Engagement • Workplace learning • Pilot Projects for employer engagement (May 2006) engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

6. National Context Educating the Engineer of 2020 : Adapting Engineering Education to the New Century, NAE, USA (2005) • Disconnect between Academe and Industry Educating Engineers for the 21st century, Royal Academy of Engineering, UK (2006) • further ways should be found to enhance collaboration between universities and companies to ensure the needs of companies are understood and reflected in the curriculum • Include collaboration at a low level to enhance ‘realism’ in teaching materials engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

7. The CETL Programme • HEFCE’s largest initiative for L&T (£319M) • 74 CETLs • Funding period March 2005 for 5 years engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

8. Why industry theme? Identified by staff in departments ‘A strong involvement with industry and the professions through research and teaching, consultancy and training, to provide direct support for wealth creation, social advancement and cultural development.’ Aligned with university strategy • Background • Strong evidence of industrial links • Engineering Education Centre since 1997 engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

9. engCETL • 7 core departments • Faculty and university level links • Embedded in University Teaching and Learning Strategy • 13 core staff, some university funded • 7 seconded academics 1. Aeronautical & Automotive Engineering 2. Chemical Engineering 3. Institute of Polymer Technology & Materials Engineering 4. Electronic & Electrical Engineering 5. Civil & Building Engineering 6. Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering 7. Design & Technology engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

10. engCETL Aims 1. Academic support focus2. Student engagement focus3. Industry focus4. Curriculum/Resource development5. Pedagogical Research6. Learning spaces7. Staff development, reward and recognition8. Institutional integration9. Wider dissemination10. Management and accountability engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

11. Academic Support • Working through Seconded Academics from each department • ‘it has met all my expectations in terms of the increased collaboration between departments and the opportunity to work with like minded colleagues’ • ‘they are committed academics who provide them with an open door, and who get actively involved in championing engCETL and teaching and learning in their departments’ • Dedicated CETL staff member to support them • Resource development, enhanced teaching space, studentships, capital funds. engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

12. Student Focus • Students on Advisory Board • Recent graduates to chair advisory Board • Student presentations to senior management • Student focus groups • Employing students to produce case studies • Formula student • Reflections on and evaluation of the student experience • Links to student groups in other CETLs engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

13. Industry Focus • Industry membership on the advisory Board • Working with existing industry sponsors and advisory panels in departments • CETL Industrial Liaison Officer charged with developing new contacts for teaching. • Web pages, leaflets, targeted mail shots, telephone contacts • Improved documentation to improve continuity of contacts between department and industry and within the company engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

14. Industry Focus Need more industry supervised projects for Students on the MSc in Renewable Energy • Creating web based material on what is required from industry and case studies of past projects • Workshop for new contacts and existing collaborators to share experiences and Issues • Edited video of workshop to form part of the information available to future contacts engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

15. Curriculum/Resource Development (CRD) • Continues the work of the eec • Co-tutor • Web PA • Online learning resources • Example: further developments of Web PA for Mechanical Engineering TCS • Student perception of peer assessment • Students setting assessment criteria • Students reflecting on formative peer feedback • Discussion Boards accessible to industry tutor engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

16. CRD -Teaching Contract Scheme (TCS) • Partnership with 15 of companies • Small teams of students (years 2 & 4) conduct research and design projects supplied and supported by the company • MEng finalists mentor the year 2 student groups • CETL Industrial Liaison Officer working to engage additional companies plus the webPA upgrade engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

17. CRD - Transfer of Practice Civil Engineering teamwork & leadership module sponsored by industry • Behaviour of individuals & teams • Needs of task, team, individual • Leadership styles & skills • Motivation (& de-motivation!) • 4 day Outdoor Management Course engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

18. Teamwork & Leadership transfer • Joint module run with Mechanical Engineering Students • Comparative study with other types of delivery • CETL funding to set up the transfer • CETL staff evaluating the activity engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

19. Pedagogic Research • Co-ordinated approach at faculty level • External consultant • Research and evaluation of all major activities • PedR 2-day workshop run with the engineering subject centre • Current Phd projects • The impact on Work Placements on the Development of Transferable Skills in Engineering • The impact of industrial sponsorship on students, academia and industry • Appraising the Benefits of Project-Based Learning in Engineering Design engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

20. Industrial Placements • Research on skills development on placements • Web based management system for students, academics & industry • Building more industrial contacts for placements e.g Chemical Engineering Students in the food processing industry • Transfer of practice between departments • Credits for work based learning? engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

21. Student focussed learning space Specified by the staff who teach design A 50-70 seat studio Four 16 seat studios Simulates commercial environment Test bed for AV and learning technology Informal use by students engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

22. Reward and Integration • CETL funds for reward integrated with university • Academic Practice awards – e.g Mechanical/ Business School Web PA • Mini projects • Teaching Prize Lump Sums • Faculty funding of 3 core staff (eec model) • University funding for additional Research Associate to transfer practice • CETL embedded in University L&T strategy engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

23. Dissemination • Web www.engcetl.ac.uk for information & contacts • HE Academy Engineering subject centre, workshops, case studies • East Midlands CETL Network • Published research findings • Funding for visiting academics engCETL – Linking Industry with Education

24. Conclusions • Involve industry in degree programmes to develop student skills • Employer engagement high on the political agenda • Importance of developing strong 3-way links between students, industry, and academics • Need for research to establish sustainable models of practice • Change Strategies needed www.engcetl.ac.uk engCETL – Linking Industry with Education