Electrical, electronic and computer engineering Archives - Page 3 of 4

The 2015 Professors and Heads of Electrical Engineering Conference (PHEE), in conjunction with PHOMME (Professors and Heads of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering) was held at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Birdcage Walk, London on 14th January, 2015. The presentations that were made available by the speakers for publication may be downloaded via the links below.

Theme: REF 2014 outcomes and beyond

Conference Programme

Session 1 Future of Engineering
Chair Prof Clive Neal Sturgess, Birmingham
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Future of engineering – Sir Peter Luff, M.P., previously Chairman of BIS Select Committee and former defence minister
The future need for engineering graduates and methods for widening participation – Paul Jackson, CEO, EngineeringUK
Future of university and industry interaction – David Docherty, CEO, National Centre for Universities and Business
Discussion panel

Session 2 REF Review and Future of Engineering Research
Chair Prof John Senior, Hertfordshire
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: REF 2014 outcomes and developments towards the next REF, David Sweeney, Director (Research, Innovation and Skills), HEFCE
REF Sub Panel Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering, Prof Robert Parkin, Sub Panel Member
Discussion panel

Session 3 REF Review and Future of Engineering Research (cont’d)
Chair: Prof John Robinson, University of York
Reflections of a REF Sub Panel Chair in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials – Prof Stephen Williamson, Sub Panel Chair
REF Sub Panel General Engineering , Prof Stephanie Haywood, Sub Panel Member
REF Sub Panel Computer Science and Informatics, Prof Morris Sloman, Deputy Chair
Discussion Panel

The Engineering Professors’ Council welcomes the conclusions of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee Inquiry into international STEM students. The Council presented strong evidence, both oral and written, to the Committee that Engineering Departments throughout UK higher education are potentially being undermined by the instability and complexity in the visa regulations and the negative perception which this change and complexity are projecting. There has been a significant drop in the numbers of postgraduate taught students coming to the UK to study for an Engineering MSc since the major changes to policy in 2011. These changes have hit Engineering Departments disproportionately because Engineering is the second highest recruiter of overseas students (next to Business). This is particularly worrying at a time when, in addition, UK students are struggling to find the funds to go on to study at postgraduate level following the introduction of higher undergraduate fees and UK Plc needs flourishing Engineering Departments in UK universities so that it can meet the needs for the skills that are needed to enable growth.

Professor Helen Atkinson, Past President of the Engineering Professors’ Council, Head of the Department of Engineering at the University of Leicester and Chair of the Education and Training Committee at the Royal Academy of Engineering who gave oral evidence to the Inquiry commented:

‘….over the last two or three years the rules have been changing and increasing in complexity. This constant change means it is extremely hard to keep track of them and advise students and staff appropriately. Worse than this, the image that is being projected by the UK in this very competitive international marketplace is one of a lack of welcome ….’

You can read the report and conclusions of the Inquiry here.

Defining and achieving excellence in postgraduate education has received little attention as research surrounding best practice has typically targeted undergraduate education. This event will bring together experts from across the field of manufacturing, materials and design postgraduate education to ask the questions what should the ‘best’ postgraduate education look like and how can excellence in postgraduate teaching, learning and overall student experience be achieved?
This event will provide opportunity for focused debate and discussion with presentations from the Higher Education Academy, Leading Postgraduate Universities, Accreditation Bodies and Industrial Employers of Postgraduate Students. Findings from this event will be widely publicized in a postgraduate education enhancement paper that will be presented to Government at the National Manufacturing Debate.
For further information please email Dr Fiona Charnley

The 2014 PHEE Conference, in conjunction with PHOMME (Professors and Heads of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering) was held at the IMechE, Birdcage Walk, London on 8th January, 2014. The presentations may be downloaded via the links below.

Theme: Engineering Challenges and Opportunities

Programme

Session 1 Industrial Challenges and Opportunities
Keynote Address: Developments and Challenges in the Microelectronics Systems Industry (a personal view) – Warren East , Dyson Board Member, Ex CEO ARM Holdings
A view from the Thales Group – Alvin Wilby, Vice President, Strategy and Technical, Thales UK
Maintaining Engineering Leadership in a growing Company – Nick Cooper, The Spencer Group

Academic Partnerships – Ian Stoneham, IET
Session 2 Skills and Training – Challenges and Opportunities
Training of Engineers – Nick Winser, Executive Director U.K., National Grid
A report on the shortage of engineers – Colin Brown, Director of Engineering IMechE
Graduates and SMEs – Sarah Sillars, CEO of SEMTA

Session 3 Research and Innovation: Challenges and Opportunities
Industry Funded Research – Jim McDonald, Vice Chancellor , Strathclyde University
Horizon 2020 Update – Christina Miller, U.K. Research Office
Findings from the Foresight Future of Manufacturing Project – Paul McCaffrey, Government Office for Science

The activities of the Engineering Professors’ Council (EPC) will be supported by Committees covering the primary areas of interest of the membership, currently defined as:

Recruitment and Admissions (including the Mathematics Working Group)
Engineering Education, Employability and Skills
Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer

The number and remit of these groups will be reviewed periodically.

The working groups will comprise members drawn from the EPC member organisations and other interested organisations by invitation and include a Chair (normally an EPC Board member) and Vice Chair who (unless already a member) will be co-opted to the EPC Board for the year prior to taking over as Chair). These roles will normally only be open to EPC members.

Chair and Vice Chairs will be appointed by the EPC Board based on recommendations from the Committee.

The roles of Chair and Vice Chair will be of fixed duration (normally three years), with the Vice Chair normally taking on the role of Chair at the conclusion of their term of office. (NB to ensure continuity of EPC operations the initial duration of these posts will be varied to “stagger” the changeovers).

Otherwise, the membership will be reviewed every three years, with the possibility for members to continue beyond the original term (for a maximum of 6 years in total).

The number of members will be at the discretion of the Committee chair, but will be sufficient to ensure representation of a cross section of member organisations and interests and to enable the tasks of the working group to be shared. Typically this would be in the range 5-15 members.

Each Committee will be expected to propose its own priorities and objectives with these being agreed by the EPC Board, normally on a bi-annual basis. Additionally, the working groups may be tasked with responding to specific events, consultations, enquiries, calls for information etc within their remit as and when these arise.

Each Committee may form one or more working groups and/or fixed term task and finish duties to support its activities. These will report to EPC via the relevant working group. The membership of these working groups will be as required to conduct the relevant activity, but will include a Chair who will be drawn from, or co-opted to, the membership of the relevant EPC Committee.

Each Committee will produce an annual review of its outputs and findings and present these at the EPC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). Additionally, specific outputs, reports or information of interest will be posted on the EPC website and/or disseminated at Congress to ensure these are accessible to the wider EPC membership.