Fiona Lamb 1 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010

Overview Setting the sceneEffective practice in employer engagementBuilding partnershipsEnabling change 2 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010

UK Economic Priorities A message echoed in many other recent reports – New Industry, New Jobs; Higher Ambitions; Stronger Together etc “Graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are key to providing the higher level skills that are required for economic recovery and long- term prosperity in the UK” National Skills Strategy

The needs of industry Real or simulated experience Relevant curricula Theoretical understanding Creativity and innovation Industry wants engineering graduates who have “practical experience of real industrial environments” Educating Engineers for the 21 st Century, RAEng, 2007 Teamwork Technical breadth Business skills 4 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010

Engineering graduates for industry To identify the options for encouraging and enabling universities to develop engineering courses that better meet the needs of industry and to identify the opportunities, barriers and costs involved Case study approach 15 exemplars at 6 universities 5 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010

Recommendations Experience counts and relevance motivates. Experience-led components must be embedded into every engineering degree Investment in experience-led HE engineering is required to deliver the higher skills needed Significant time and energy should be directed towards building, enhancing and sustaining university/industry partnerships 6 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010

Foundation degrees (LSBU, Aston) Work experience 7 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010 Why? Filling skills gap Changing nature of students Institutional profile Why? Filling skills gap Changing nature of students Institutional profile What? 2yr part-time qualifications accredited by universities Close tie up with companies Students already employed What? 2yr part-time qualifications accredited by universities Close tie up with companies Students already employed Benefits Retention within engineering career Enhanced employability skills Meeting real need Huge demand Potential for research work Benefits Retention within engineering career Enhanced employability skills Meeting real need Huge demand Potential for research work Challenges Meeting demand Further study or employment? Challenges Meeting demand Further study or employment?

Student-led activity (Imperial) Work experience 8 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010 Why? Enhanced employability Additional opportunities Why? Enhanced employability Additional opportunities What? Activities organised by the students themselves Students raise funds etc What? Activities organised by the students themselves Students raise funds etc Benefits Demonstrates key qualities of graduates to employers Alumni and company links Benefits Demonstrates key qualities of graduates to employers Alumni and company links Challenges Costs students time and money Not all will get involved Challenges Costs students time and money Not all will get involved

Active learning (Coventry, Liverpool) Relevant curriculum 9 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010 Why? Stimulate learning Decrease drop-out rates Institutional profile Why? Stimulate learning Decrease drop-out rates Institutional profile What? Activity-led learning Active learning, CDIO Project-based learning What? Activity-led learning Active learning, CDIO Project-based learning Benefits Improved retention and progression Increased engagement Enhanced standards Mimicking the industrial experience Benefits Improved retention and progression Increased engagement Enhanced standards Mimicking the industrial experience Challenges Adapting to new teaching methods Changes to assessment methods Resources Challenges Adapting to new teaching methods Changes to assessment methods Resources

Simulated industrial activities (Imperial) Relevant curriculum 10 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010 Why? Need to improve employability skills Institutional profile Result of visiting professor scheme Why? Need to improve employability skills Institutional profile Result of visiting professor scheme What? Constructionarium: 6 day hands- on construction experience Pilot chemical engineering plant What? Constructionarium: 6 day hands- on construction experience Pilot chemical engineering plant Benefits Improved retention Increased motivation, enthusiasm & confidence Links theory to practice Enhanced employability skills Improved recruitment Benefits Improved retention Increased motivation, enthusiasm & confidence Links theory to practice Enhanced employability skills Improved recruitment Challenges Start up Time Cost Challenges Start up Time Cost

Use existing practice as a starting point Engineering graduates for industry report Relevant report being produced by National Academy of Engineering, due Spring 2001 (USA) Olin College of Engineering (USA) Aalborg University (Denmark) Ecole Centrale Paris (France) Engineering Subject Centre 11 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010

Ecole Centrale Paris Training new “Centraliens”, top-level multidisciplinary engineers who can effectively impact today’s world through their strong leadership, entrepreneurship and innovative spirit 12 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010

13 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010 Shared responsibility

CEREB building (LSBU) Building partnerships 14 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010 Why? Understanding each other’s needs Communication Maximising opportunities Why? Understanding each other’s needs Communication Maximising opportunities What? Innovative solutions to real problems What? Innovative solutions to real problems

Change roles Leadership – senior management (uni & ind), govtChange agents – Programme Directors, industrialistsEducational support – eng ed units, engSC, RAEng etcChange champions – dedicated individuals (uni & ind)Change participants – staff, industry and students 15 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010

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Meeting the need Components of an engineering degree which develop industry- related skills including, but not limited to, direct interaction with industry 17 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010

What next? Over to you 18 Royal Academy of Engineering 16 September 2010