National Teaching Fellowship Scheme - Higher Education Academy

National Teaching Fellows 2012
Professor John Davies
Professor of Civil Engineering
Coventry University
After practising as a civil engineer for eight years and becoming a Chartered Engineer, Professor John
Davies began his academic career at the Polytechnic of Central London (University of Westminster)
in 1980. He developed strong interests in urban drainage research and in teaching. John moved
to Coventry University in 1997 where he continued his research and his passionate interest in
engineering education. He was Head of Department between 2001 and 2010.
John’s approach to supporting students’ learning in his main subject, civil engineering hydraulics, has
been to aim for the understanding of basic principles in application. He uses realistic case studies as
the basis for his teaching, so students understand the practical application of their learning. John also
makes sure his students experience the complications seen in real-world civil engineering projects,
especially where they reinforce their understanding of basic engineering principles.
His recent education work has consisted mainly of projects funded by the National HE STEM
Programme relating to part-time students. One-third of Coventry’s undergraduate civil engineering
students study on day release and work within the profession for the rest of the week - with their
experience and workplace attitudes they are a valuable resource. One project has involved a scheme
in which part-time students act as mentors to full-time students. Another has collected examples of
effective practice in part-time delivery. A third has looked at how realistic project work at university is
perceived by part-time students: is it really realistic, and is it still worthwhile for students with industry
experience?
As well as an extensive range of academic papers on engineering education and on urban drainage,
John has written two books, both currently in their third edition: Communication skills (Davies and
Dunn) and Urban drainage (Butler and Davies). He is editor of the Higher Education Academy journal,
Engineering Education. John is also chair of EE2012, International Conference on Innovation, Practice
and Research in Engineering Education, Coventry University, September 2012.
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