Engineering graduates for industry - Royal Academy of Engineering

Engineering graduates for industry
Other members of the team are 1st and
2nd year undergraduate students,
encouraged to join the team on a
voluntary basis, as it is seen to add to
their experience-led learning.
In 2008/09, a satellite volunteer group of
twelve 1st and 2nd year undergraduate
students also prepared a design for a
car to enter into the Formula Student
Class 3 competition. The School also
offers the Competition Preparation
Module, a 10 credit final year module
which allows students (about 35
students in 2008/09) to be assessed for
submissions to national and
international student engineering
competitions. Students write their own
analysis of the competition entry for
assessment and all the supporting work
and calculations that are not submitted
to the competition can be included in
that analysis.
Aston is trying to enhance the number of group work design and build projects with industrial involvement, as they
believe these projects improve student motivation. In terms of simulated industrial experience, the Chemical
Engineering and Applied Chemistry students spend time in a pilot plant and make an annual industrial visit. Electronic
Engineering students are all members of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and are encouraged to
attend local events.
Looking forward, Aston is developing a CDIO approach for the 2011/12 academic year, with an associated space
redesign and refurbishment. This will be in a new Department of Mechanical Engineering and Design, which will
include power engineering. The University also has plans to develop the Aston Engineering Academy – a single
co-educational, non-selective Academy to be established in Birmingham City Centre as part of the wider Transforming
Education agenda. The Academy will cater for 14-19 year olds, offering students apprenticeships, diplomas in
Manufacturing, Engineering, Business and other appropriate qualifications.
Understanding the needs of industry
Aston’s strong employability record provides evidence that it understands the needs of industry. In addition to the
normal industrial liaison committees, many staff have extensive industrial experience, both prior to their academic
career and through research and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). This input is enhanced by industrial visitors
contributing to the curriculum, providing several industry-sponsored project prizes and industrial projects and making
informal presentations.
In October 2009, Aston started a new route to supporting the needs of industry with the appointment of Mike Wood as
a Visiting Professor in Design and Innovation in the Department of Engineering Systems and Management. His role is to
perform a facilitating function between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Birmingham catchment area
and the University. The visiting professor post is part funded by the RAEng for academic aspects and by Birmingham
City Council for going out to SMEs to establish links and build relationships within the local industrial community. The
visiting professor’s objective is to enable local SMEs to benefit from student research through utilising them to address
urgent but also strategic needs of the companies. The activity aims to benefit both parties as the students gain
industrial experience and the companies will have a specific need addressed. It is possible such collaboration may yield
future employment prospects for the students involved. The longer term aim, in conjunction with Aston’s Business
Partnership Unit, is for the SMEs to start to utilise universities as a resource and to develop the interaction through MSc
research projects providing at least six months of mutually beneficial research activity.
The Royal Academy of Engineering 15