UK and Ireland Engineering Education Research Network

Welcome to the UK & Ireland Engineering Education Research Network

A Professional Community of Engineering Educators and Engineering Education Researchers

The UK & Ireland Engineering Education Research Network is an open professional group for individuals and organisations interested in high quality engineering education and engineering education research

The Network promotes high quality pedagogic research to underpin innovative and sustainable developments in engineering education.

The aims of the Network are:

  • to develop an effective Engineering Education Research community in the UK and Ireland promoting rigorous EER
  • the identification and engagement of members of the engineering education research community both in the UK and Ireland and internationally
  • to identify shared areas of research interest for colleagues
  • to identify funding opportunities and promote collaboration
  • to identify professional development needs and opportunities
  • to provide a means to engage with the wider engineering community and policy makers
  • to promote an engaging environment for student researchers.

About EERN

Connected by a desire to support high quality, innovative engineering education through empirically grounded pedagogical research, the UK & Ireland Engineering Education Research Network was originally established in 2009 under the auspices of the Higher Education Academy as a Special Interest Group. Now an independent ā€œgrassrootsā€ organisation, the Network has over 50 members from a number of different universities.

The UK & Ireland Engineering Education Research Network is a Professional Forum that provides colleagues interested in promoting evidence based practice in engineering education with the means by which to meet, discuss and exchange ideas and to learn from each other. Underpinning all of our work is the ethos that engineering education research should be conducted in such a way so as to make a positive difference to engineering education at all levels, improving the quality, context and content of the student experience.

The Network exists to promote engineering education scholarship across the UK Higher Education Sector, with an additional remit of critically examining how engineering might be better represented within the pre-university teaching environment. Covering the complete professional spectrum of engineering, and also including colleagues from other disciplines who teach engineering students, the Network aims to meet the needs of all those involved in teaching engineering and applied science.

We also welcome colleagues who support, manage or help with the development of engineering educators. PhD students are particularly welcome to join as the group offers the ideal supportive and collegial environment in which to learn about learning and teaching in engineering.

Becoming a member

Membership of the Network is open to anyone with an interest in Engineering Education Research. Joining instructions may be found by clicking on the Join us link. The Network meets once a year.Ā  The meeting takes the format of an EER Annual Symposium. Details of our previous meetings may be found by clicking on the Past events link.

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Newer Researcher Network (NRN)

Hello and welcome to the Newer Research Network.

TheĀ  UK & Ireland Engineering Education Research Network ā€“ Newer Researchers Network (NREEN) was launched in 2018 and comprises a community of newer researchers and academics from the wider EERN membership. Since our launch, NREEN has provided a supportive home for those who are new to the field of Engineering Education Research through digital newsletters, face-to-face workshops, networking sessions and online events.

The vision of NREEN is to provide a place where researchers who are new to the field of Engineering Education Research can receive support and knowledge. We see this occurring through the sharing of ideas and experiences; as your representatives on the UK&IE EERN committee, we aim to:

Promote the EERN UKI to Newer EE Researchers.

Supporting representation of newer researchers at EERN events.

Provide professional development opportunities for Newer Researchers.

Foster a supportive community for Newer Researchers.

Ways to keep in touch

To keep up to date with the network, follow us on Twitter (@EERN_ECR) or contact us by email atĀ eern.nrn@gmail.comĀ to get involved.

The committee are keen to hear from anyone who identifies as a Newer Engineering Education Researcher, so please contact the network via email or on Twitter (@EERN_ECR) to get involved.

We look forward to hearing from you or meeting you at our events (all are free to attend).

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Past events

The Network organised its first Annual Symposium in 2013 and since then it has welcomed growing numbers of Engineering Education Researchers.

If you are looking for upcoming events click here. Records of these past events are included below:

In 2020, the network organised a series of online sessions, resources from these are below:

  1. Synopsis of the first virtual round table discussion (July 2020)
  2. Life Under Lockdown: Making Your Voice As An Engineering Education Researcher Heard (Aug 2020)
  3. Group Work In The New Normal ā€“ A Network Masterclass And Discussion On Research Opportunities (Sep 2020)

The Seventh Annual Symposium was held at the University of Warwick, in December 2019

Proceedings ā€“ Programme ā€“ Tweets ā€“ Keynote & other SlidesĀ  ā€“Ā  Photos

The Second Colloquium held at TU Dublin in May 2019.

ProgrammeĀ  Proceedings ā€“ Tweets ā€“Ā 

The Sixth Annual Symposium was held at the University of Portsmouth, in November 2018.

Delegate guidebook (Programme and more) ā€“ Tweets ā€“ Keynote & other Slides Ā ā€“Ā  Photos

EERN Conference Proceedings 2018 (with ISBN and CC 4.0 licence, feel free to use and cite).

The First Colloquium was held at Northumbria University in May 2018

ProceedingsĀ 

The Fifth Annual Symposium was held at the Royal Academy of Engineering, in November 2017.

Abstracts ā€“ Programme ā€“ Parallel Sessions ā€“ Tweets ā€“ Keynote & other Slides ā€“Ā  Photos

EERN Conference Proceedings 2017 (with ISBN and Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence, feel free to use and cite).

The Fourth Annual Symposium was held at York University in November 2016.

Material ā€“ Programme ā€“ Kel Fidlerā€™s White Paper on NMiTE

The Third Annual Symposium was held at Cambridge University in November 2015.

Materials ā€“ Programme and Abstract Book

Photos are also available

The Second Annual Symposium was held at Northumbria University in May 2014.

Materials ā€“ Programme

The First Event was held at Loughborough University in June 2013.

Materials ā€“ Programme

Network Steering Group

Steering Group Members

Dr Jane Andrews, University of Warwick, (Membership Secretary). Email:Jane.Andrews@warwick.ac.uk.

Dr Gavin Duffy, Dublin Institute of Technology.

Prof. Robin Clark, Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick. (Chair).

Dr Gill Cooke, University of Warwick.

Rebecca Broadbent, Aston University, (PhD Student Rep).

Dr Manish Malik, University of Portsmouth.

Dr Anne Norcliffe, Canterbury Christchurch University, Social Media Guru.

Dr Roger Penlington, Northumbria University (Vice Chair).

Tom Ridgman, Cambridge University.

Prof. Tony Ward, Department of Electronic Engineering, University of York.

Dr Ines Direito,Ā  Center for Engineering Education, University College London.

Prof. Mo Zandi, University of Sheffield.

Dr Folashade Akinmolayan, Queen Mary University of London.

Network Steering Group Terms of Reference

In order to maintain the professional and academic integrity of the Network, an independent Steering Group comprising colleagues working in EER has been established.

The Terms of Reference for this Group are to:

  1. Act as an independent body by adopting a ā€˜governanceā€™ role for the Network, providing high quality ā€˜user-focusedā€™ expertise, direction and input as appropriate.
  2. Ensure that the Network operates with integrity and in an ethical manner.
  3. Provide members of the Network with advice and guidance in respect of any aspect of EER as appropriate.
  4. Facilitate collaborative research when called upon to do so.
  5. Manage the EER Network JISC list.
  6. Promote the dissemination of EER publications by Network members and others as appropriate.
  7. Provide a UK and Irish perspective within the international EER Community.
  8. Maintain links with and across the Network membership.
  9. Host meetings and events within the EER Community.
  10. Provide a forum for the whole of the EER Community including PhD students and newer researchers.

Operation

  • The Steering Group has an independent Chair and Vice Chair appointed from amongst the members.
  • The Steering Group has a Secretary responsible for maintaining communication with the Network.
  • The Steering Group meets physically at least once a year. Additional ā€˜electronicā€™ meetings are arranged as appropriate.
  • The Steering Group is responsible for developing and maintaining the Network Website.
  • The Steering Group will not ally itself with any one particular Higher Education Institution.

Membership

  • Volunteer representatives from the wider Network.
  • From time to time non-members, from Professional Bodies or external to the UK and Ireland may be appointed as members of the Steering Group.

Our priorities

During the 2015 Symposium, the participants considered the priority areas for research from the Networkā€™s collective perspective.

The key themes identified were:

  1. Understanding the population of ā€˜engineersā€™ in terms
  • of why people come into Engineering or Engineering roles at any stage in their life
  • of why people leave Engineering or Engineering roles at any stage in their life
  1. Enabling HEIā€™s to better prepare students for practice in terms of
  • Teaching students how to learn from experience
  • Teaching students how to find, learn and assimilate new knowledge
  • Developing students meta-cognition i.e. knowing what they know and what they donā€™t know
  • Developing students capabilities, confidence and credibility
  • Making learning more authentic
  1. Enabling a better understanding and definition of the
  • skills and attributes of those able to perform Engineering roles
  • knowledge that is needed / not needed to perform Engineering roles

Profiles

Centres & Research Groups

Manufacturing Industry Education Research Group (Cambridge University)

It aims to research areas where new knowledge will benefit the learning and development of:

  • people in becoming effective and excellent practitioners in manufacturing industry roles
  • manufacturing industry companies in developing and sustaining the capabilities needed to compete in the global industrial ecosystem.

Engineering Education Research Group (University of Portsmouth)

EERGā€™s aims to take an evidence based approach to enhancing Engineering Education. The activities of its group members include:

  • conducting Systematic Reviews and Meta Analysis that answer relevant research questions.
  • developing and evaluating smart technologies that enhance learning, teaching and academic practice.

Steering Group Member Profiles

Dr. Jane Andrews, University of Warwick

Dr. Gavin Duffy, Dublin Institute of Technology.

Prof. Robin Clark, WMG University of Warwick.

Dr Gill Cooke,Ā  University of Warwick..

Rebecca Broadbent, Aston University.

Manish Malik, University of Portsmouth.

Dr. Anne Norcliffe, Canterbury Christchurch University.

Dr. Roger Penlington, Northumbria University.

Tom Ridgman, Cambridge University.

Prof. Tony Ward, Department of Electronic Engineering, University of York.

Dr. Ines Direito,Ā  Centre for Engineering Education, University College London.

Dr. Mo Zandi,Ā  University of Sheffield.

Dr. Folashade Akinmolayan, Queen Mary University of London.

Diversity and inclusion (EERN)

The UK and Ireland Engineering Education Network is committed to encouraging and strengthening links between the Network and the wider Engineering Education community across the Higher Education Sector; Promoting the adoption of ā€˜evidence-basedā€™ teaching practice in Engineering; and providing a forum discussion about Engineering Education Research across the UK and wider.Ā Ā 

The Network is fully committed to promoting equality and inclusion in these activities and in its own work whatever the age, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, creed, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, parental status, religion, belief or non-belief, social or economic class, employment status, or any other criteria that cannot be shown to be properly justifiable.

The Network will monitor all its activities to ensure, wherever possible or practical, are equal and inclusive in terms of access and the technical message given

Join us

Becoming a Member

In addition to an annual symposium and a spring colloquium every year, the Network encourages online networking through a LinkedIn Group for members to share and discuss, an early career researchers twitter handle and an active JISC email list to join.

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To be added to the LinkedIn group, first join the group and please send us a request on the following link too:

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13582498

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For our early career researchers, we have a twitter handle which you may wish to follow, its:

@EERN_ECR

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If you would like to join as a member of the Network please contact Dr Jane Andrews (details below) who will add you to the JISC list and make sure you are kept fully informed of our activities.

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Dr Jane Andrews, Pedagogic researcher, University of Warwick, Jane.Andrews@warwick.ac.uk

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The current chair of the Network is Prof Robin Clark. If you would like further details about the Network or are interested in working with Network members (collaborative research) please contact Robin directly.

Prof Robin Clark, Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick. r.clark.6@warwick.ac.uk

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