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Engineering Professors’ Council

Engineering Professors’ Council. Professor Fred Maillardet. Origin and role of EPC. Formed in 1994 from predecessor bodies: EPC (1959) and CEP (1981) Every university in the UK with an engineering department is in membership: University subscription basis

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Engineering Professors’ Council

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  1. Engineering Professors’ Council Professor Fred Maillardet Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education

  2. Origin and role of EPC • Formed in 1994 from predecessor bodies: EPC (1959) and CEP (1981) • Every university in the UK with an engineering department is in membership: University subscription basis Open to all senior engineering academics • “EPC exists to promote excellence in Engineering Higher Education” Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education

  3. 14-19 Diploma in Engineering HE in FE Seminar and Workshop Solihull College 6th February 2008 Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education

  4. Historical background • EPC concern over falling maths standards from the early 1990s • Others concerns: “The maths problem” (IMA in 1995) and “Crisis in maths” (UCAS in 2002)… • EPC specific concerns: algebraic manipulation, basic geometry and trigonometry, and general fluency in handling number concepts Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education

  5. The New Engineering Diploma • EPC general support for the concept of reducing the academic-vocational divide • However, now confused by the “Academic Diplomas” launched in 2007! • Diplomas designed to lead to work or apprenticeships or further study…..EPC focusing on the latter Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education

  6. Initial concerns • EPC concerned when details were first published in 2007 re: The maths content Teachers ability to deliver The level of real industrial support • Concern expressed to the Chair of the Select Committee……. Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education

  7. Maths Task Group • EPC and ESC formed a Maths Task Group to try to address these issues • Membership includes NCETM, ECuk, IMA, LMS, SSCs, Deans of Science, MEI • The Task Group quickly reached a consensus on what was required Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education

  8. Module proposed • Module based on Loughborough University Foundation Year Course • This course was designed for students without A level maths who wish to study engineering at degree level • The subsequent degree performance of students taking this course has often exceeded A level entrants Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education

  9. Module length and coverage • Module is 180 GLH (although originally proposed as 120 GLH) • Specialist Learning – i.e. optional for those wishing to progress to study engineering at degree level • Coverage similar to A level Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education

  10. Applications orientation • Teaching maths in the context of applications is seen as critical • Exemplars are being developed for each maths topic to illustrate real engineering applications • Each exemplar will be supported by a relevant industrial company – JCB, Rolls Royce…. Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education

  11. Availability and support • DCSF has already agreed to fund the exemplar development • An engineer has been engaged full time to work up exemplar details • DCSF, NCETM and FMN are all exploring how to provide the teacher support recognised as still needed Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education

  12. Conclusions • The three initial concerns are all being addressed, teacher support being the most challenging • Work is still needed to convince some of our university Admissions Tutors to accept the Diploma Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education

  13. Solihull Workshop Thank you for listening f.j.maillardet@brighton.ac.uk www.epc.ac.uk Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education

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