ICEE-2002
UMIST, Manchester, Great Britain, August 18 – 22, 2002
The UK-wide Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN) was launched in January 2000 following British Government review of existing learning and teaching initiatives in higher education (HE). Recognition that academics best appreciate, assimilate and implement a pedagogic approach when presented to them in the context of their own discipline, resulted in the establishment of a subject-based support network with a broad focus across all learning and teaching activity.
The aim of the LTSN is to provide support to academics in order to improve the provision of learning and teaching in HE. Funding is provided by the Higher Education Funding Councils thereby enabling its services to be free of charge to its academic clients.
The LTSN Subject Centre for Engineering (www.ltsneng.ac.uk), hosted by Loughborough University, is one of the 24 subject centres which form the LTSN Network. LTSN Engineering aims to support engineering academics in their learning and teaching through:
In 2001 the Centre undertook a needs analysis of its stakeholders. The purpose was to assist the Centre in fine-tuning its strategy and work plan, and to ensure it understood the needs of its clients. The consultation exercise sought information on issues, priority areas and on proposed Centre activities and communication methods.
In order to meet the Centre's aim of enhancing education, the views of all stakeholders to engineering education are important. During 2001 LTSN Engineering polled engineers from academia and industry as part of a needs analysis of issues and priorities in Engineering Education.
Over 800 of the comprehensive questionnaires were returned, and key issues that were identified included recruitment, gender, employment, student skills, changes to the school curriculum, student retention and learning and teaching. Interesting differences emerged between the two sectors in how they rated the importance of these issues and these differences were qualified by the numerous comments solicited from the respondents. It is perhaps no surprise that academics ranked limited resources, the decreasing mathematical skills of students and student motivation as the most serious issues they faced. On the other hand industry rated the contents of degree programmes and the quality of graduates highest. In other words those respondents from industry were more concerned with the product, rather than the process, of education.
The panel discussion will begin with a short overview of the survey results that will emphasize the differences found between the sectors. Thereafter the session will be devoted to a discussion concerning three or four of the key issues. The survey result for each issue will be presented by Rob Eley (Academic Co-ordinator for LTSN Engineering) followed by comments from the other panel members (Warren Houghton, Senior Lecturer in Electronic Engineering, University of Exeter; Harry Chandler, English Electric, Rolls Royce, GEC; and Maddie Smith, Careers Adviser, University of Manchester & UMIST Careers Service). Each speaker will present their views as related to the needs and concerns of their own sector (academia, industry and student) and the views of the audience will be solicited. It is anticipated that a lively discussion will ensue with ideas presented or even solutions identified to bridge the gap between the academic product and the employers' requirements.
All delegates are encouraged to attend what promises to be an interesting session that deals with a very topical issue.
Session Co-Chair:
Rob Eley, PhD, CBiol