Articles
Call for participation: Innovative and inclusive assessments
Assessment change in the current climate cannot be mentioned without mentioning the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). So, if you think you have something to share on JEDI assessment design changes...
In development: Sustainability Toolkit
We are excited to inform you that we are starting work on a Sustainability Toolkit, to be launched around the beginning of 2024. We are grateful to receive support and...
House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee Inquiry into the Office for Students (OfS)
The EPC has responded to the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee inquiry into the Office for Students (OfS), the regulator of the higher education sector in England. The...
Sustainability Toolkit Steering Group Questionnaire
This questionnaire is for members of the Sustainability Toolkit Steering Group.
Call for papers: UK and Ireland Engineering Education Research Network Annual Symposium
The UK & Ireland EERN is pleased to announce that their Annual Symposium is back ‘live and in person’ following their virtual events of recent times. Building on the success...
Engineering Ethics Toolkit - Letting students flex their ethical muscles
Dr Matthew Studley looks at using case studies from the Engineering Ethics Toolkit to engage students.
Introducing the EAN Briefing
We are thrilled to announce EPC’s new, dynamic Engineering Academics Network Briefing, our members' Bulletin service within the EPC Online – our new website and integrated membership services platform. This is...
House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee Inquiry into the Office for Students (OfS)
The EPC response to this consultation can be found here. The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee is launching an inquiry into the Office for Students (OfS), the regulator...
Engineering UK Inquiry call for evidence – Fit for the future: Growing and sustaining engineering and technology apprenticeships for young people
The EPC has responded to the Engineering UK Inquiry call for evidence – Fit for the future: Growing and sustaining engineering and technology apprenticeships for young people. The aims of...
The EPC Hammermen Student Awards: get involved
Help your students celebrate their success through the coveted EPC Hammermen Student Prize. There is a cash award of up to £500 and FIVE totally free places at the 2023...
From engineering graduate to physics teacher: Georgina shares her story
In the face of the critical shortage of Physics teachers, some Engineering graduates are pursuing the chance to teach and inspire the next generation. Read Georgina Smith's journey of becoming a...
RAEng Visiting Professors Scheme 2023: applications open
Each year the Royal Academy of Engineering provides funding to universities for visiting professors from the engineering sector to support the learning of the next generation of engineers. If you've...
UCAS: Future of undergraduate admissions (personal statements)
The EPC response to this consultation can be found here.UCAS has recently shared plans to reform the personal statement to a series of questions. You can read UCAS’ Future of...
Spotlight on ethics: Solar panels in a desert oil field
Is it bribery? Should you take it?
EPC Data explorer showcased by Jisc
We're pleased to share that the EPC's new member-only Data explorer has been selected by Jisc to feature on their site. Jisc shares member stories to showcase innovative use of...
Engineering UK Inquiry call for evidence - Fit for the future: Growing and sustaining engineering and technology apprenticeships for young people
The EPC response to this consultation can be found here. A new inquiry - led by Lord Willetts (Conservative) and Lord Knight (Labour) in partnership with EngineeringUK - has been launched to...
Stemming the shortage
The shortage in STEM teachers – particularly in Physics – has reached a crisis and it threatens to undermine Engineering departments, the engineering sector and the nation's prosperity. Crystal Nwagboso and Johnny...
Spotlight on ethics: Water wars: managing competing water rights
What responsibilities do engineers have to fellow employees, the community, and the environment?
Spotlight on ethics: Developing an internet constellation
Who should make decisions about projects that affect nature on a global scale?
The experience of disabled doctoral students: survey
Survey participation request: The experience of disabled doctoral students The experience of disabled doctoral students (including neurodiverse students and students with chronic illness) is under-researched. Disabled Students UK is co-producing...
EPC Engineering Enrolments Survey Results 2022/23
The results of the 2022 EPC Engineering Enrolments Survey are now available. Deep dive the results through our members-only Data explorer, view the slide-deck, or read the summary blog. To start,...
Opportunity: Help shape BTEC qualifications
You are invited to join the advisory panels supporting the future development of BTECs in Engineering and other disciplines.
Tributes to Prof David Harrison, Honorary Secretary of the EPC
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death yesterday of Prof David Harrison, the Honorary Secretary of the Engineering Professors' Council.
EPC staff member honoured
The EPC's Policy & Research Manager, Stella Fowler, has been granted the title Honorary Research Fellow by UCL
OfS consultation on a new approach to regulating equality of opportunity in English higher education
The EPC has responded to the Office for Students consultation on a new approach to regulating equality of opportunity in English higher education. As part of this consultation, OfS published...
Our patrons and previous presidents
Dates of previous presidents, Congress venues and President's Prize winners: Date President* Congress venue President's Prize Winner 2001-03 Prof Bill Banks 2001 - Strathclyde 2002 - Durham 2003-05 Prof Fred...
Data dive workshop: student enrolments
You may have noticed our beta Data explorer on EPC's new website. Student enrolments on the site is now fully formed and we were excited to recently bring members the...
Creativity isn’t about novelty – it’s about difference
We often talk about Engineers as problem-solvers, but what if there is no problem, you just want to make things better. Dennis Sherwood, author of a new book on creativity...
Siemens - Skills for Sustainability Student Survey
Siemens have partnered Petrus to launch an important student survey on sustainability skills and education. Please do share the below with your students, the results will of course be made...
EPC response to QAA Consultation on the revised Engineering Subject Benchmark Statement
The EPC responded to the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) draft Engineering subject benchmark statement consultation to highlight that the statement could do more to promote ethics and sustainability. The full...
Increasing students’ participation in Engineering higher education
The Royal Academy of Engineering's Siobhan Silas explains how you can support a major initiative to get more students into engineering.
EPC Engineering Enrolments Survey 2022
Don't forget to complete your EPC engineering enrolments survey by 31st October. The timetable, details and download template for the annual survey is now available and your enrolment survey contact...
President's Report 2022
Prof Mike Sutcliffe, the current EPC President, summarises his first year as President and explains how the EPC has helped its members during a time of uncertainty in the government...
OfS consultation on a new approach to regulating equality of opportunity in English higher education
The EPC response to this consultation can be found here. The Office for Students is proposing to take a new approach to the regulation of equality of opportunity in English...
The engineering benchmark statement is invaluable, let's defend it well
The Quality Assurance Agency's (QAA) Subject benchmark statements show the minimum expectations of the knowledge and skills a student needs in order to graduate, subject-by-subject. Engineering is now up for...
QAA consultation on draft Engineering subject benchmark statement
The EPC response to this consultation can be found here. The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is inviting responses to the draft Engineering subject benchmark statement. The EPC will be submitting...
Bid to host EPC Congress in 2024
Proposals are invited from higher education Engineering departments to host the Engineering Professors’ Council Annual Congress in 2024. The deadline for submissions is Monday, 31st October 2022. [su_quote cite="Catherine Hobbs, 2022...
Launching EPC Online
We're very excited to welcome you to the EPC's new digital platform. It's the culmination of more than three years of listening to members, planning and hard work. The aim...
Engineering inclusive outcomes is a question of ethics
In this blog, Prof Dawn Bonfield MBE explains how the decisions engineers make on a daily basis can have significant consequences for underrepresented and disadvantaged groups in society.
Engineering Ethics Toolkit case studies in action at TEDI-London
In this blog, Prof Mike Bramhall reflects on how and why he incorporated the EPC's engineering ethics case studies into his teaching at TEDI-London.
Contributions sought for the Engineering Ethics Toolkit
**Register of interest deadline now extended to the 12th September** The EPC's Engineering Ethics Toolkit advisory group seeks contributors to write guidance articles, create case enhancements and develop new case...
President's Prize announced: Dr. Hayaatun Sillem honoured by the engineering academic community
Press release The Engineering Professors’ Council (EPC), the representative body of UK engineering academics, has announced that its annual President’s Prize has been awarded to Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, for...
Tackling the engineering challenges of tomorrow
The priorities for research must shift to face up to the future. The EPSRC has released a landmark report to set a new agenda for funding and direction. EPSRC's Dr Andy...
Applications invited for new SRHE research funds
The Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) has recently launched the 2022 SRHE Research and Scoping Awards. Funding up to £10k is available.
EPC Congress 2022: Hammermen Student Prize – Finalist posters and Longlisted posters
The Hammermen Awards an annual prize, presented in association with the Hammermen of Glasgow, to celebrate engineering students’ excellence. And this year you get to decide who wins. This year’s award...
Welcome to EPC Online
Welcome to the EPC's new digital home. This new website and integrated membership services platform will transform the way our members interact with the EPC, network with other Engineering academics...
DfE consultation on Higher Education Policy Statement and Reform
The Department for Education (DfE) ran this consultation from 24th February 2022 to 6 May 2022. The consultation sought to get the views on proposals for higher education reform in...
Jisc: Design of the UK’s future research assessment system
This consultation ran from February to May 2022 by the Scottish Funding Council, Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, Research England, Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland who asked for...
Reflections on REF
REF 2021 is finally over, and the results are out. Whether we were involved as individual researchers, collating submissions for our institutions or involved directly in the assessment panels and...
Why communication is a critical tool for any engineer
People rarely choose engineering because of their communication skills, but that doesn't mean they're not a vital part of the tool box. Prof Lucy Rogers explains.
Levelling up
The “Levelling-up” white paper published in February sets out how the government is planning to tackle the issue of regional inequality in opportunityacross the UK, through a mixture of new...
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee Call for evidence: Delivering a UK Science & Technology Strategy
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee conducted an inquiry into the Government’s plans to deliver a UK science and technology strategy. The inquiry considered what such a strategy...
EPC responses to OfS Consultations
The EPC has published its responses to two consultations from the Office for Students on proposed changes to Student Outcomes and TEF.
House of Commons Education Select Committee Call for evidence: Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG)
The Education Committee held an inquiry on the effectiveness of the careers advice given to students. This consultation ran until March 2022. The inquiry is a review of how well...
Office for Students consultation on the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
This consultation set out proposals for the future Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). This is a national scheme which incentivises universities and colleges for excellence in learning, teaching and the outcomes they provide for their students.
Office for Students consultation on a new approach to regulating student outcomes (changes to B3 baseline)
The Office for Students OfS issued three related consultations in February 2022 with detailed proposals on their approach to regulating quality and standards in higher education.
Constructing student outcome and experience indicators for use in OfS regulation
The OfS proposals for regulating student outcomes and the TEF involve using detailed data and analytical evidence to inform their regulatory judgements. The focus of this consultation is on the...
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
The Office for Students OfS issued three related consultations in February 2022 with detailed proposals on their approach to regulating quality and standards in higher education. Read on to find...
Regulating student outcomes (changes to B3 baseline)
The regulating student outcomes consultation outlines a new approach to setting ‘minimum requirements’ for positive HE outcomes in England. The continuing narrative is the threat of ‘low performing providers’ to...
Welcome to the Engineering Ethics Toolkit
An ambitious new initiative to ensure engineering education is a force for good.
House of Commons Education Select Committee: Inquiry into the future of post-16 qualifications
The Education Committee held an inquiry examining how effectively post-16, level 3 education and qualifications (such as A Levels, T Levels, BTECs and apprenticeships) prepare young people for the world...
EPC Engineering Enrolments Survey Results 2021/22
The results of the 2021 EPC Engineering Enrolments Survey are now available.
The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) consultation on revision of external quality assurance review requirements
This consultation ran from October to December 2021. This is a consultation on changes to the requirements for external quality assurance review, which regulated institutions are required to undergo at...
APPG Youth Employment call for evidence
The EPC responded to the call for evidence on 15th December 2021, the final report was published on 15th March 2022. On the 15th March 2022, the All–Party Parliamentary Group...
Office for Students Strategy for 2022-25
This consultation ran from November 2021 to January 2022. OfS sought to get views on their proposed strategy for 2022-25. The consultation proposes a plan of action that will guide...
Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education Degree Apprenticeships Consultation
This consultation ran from September 2021 to December 2021. The Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education looked to change its existing policies that affected the development, approval, and operation of...
Inspiring tomorrow’s engineers
It’s our ambition at EngineeringUK to inform and inspire young people and grow the number and diversity of tomorrow’s engineers to meet the needs of the UK now and in...
OfS Consultation on quality and standards conditions
This consultation ran from July to September 2021. OfS undertook a preliminary consultation on a range of quality and standards issues during the winter of 2020-21. The consultation brought forward...
President's Report 2021
Prof Colin Turner, EPC President during the 2020-21 academic year summarises this unprecedented year and how the EPC helped its members overcome the challenges they faced during this time... Last...
‘Engineering Engineering: A Provocation’ Webcast Summary
A new paper which seeking to challenge assumptions and practice around Engineering higher education and the talent pipeline.
CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS: The Crucible Project – Advancing the Industry-Academia Agenda
During the course of the 2020 Annual Congress, Industry & Academia: Supercharging the Crucible, members explored the interface between industry and academia and some of the challenges to developing the relationship between...
Engineering Professors’ Council welcomes Professor Mike Sutcliffe as new President
Professor Mike Sutcliffe is the new President of the Engineering Professors’ Council, the representative organisation of UK engineering academics.
Prof Helen Atkinson, former EPC President, awarded a Damehood
We are delighted and proud that Professor Helen Atkinson CBE, FREng, President of the Engineering Professors’ Council 2011-13, has been made a Dame in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021.
Chi Onwurah MP Webinar Summary
In case you missed it, here is a short summary of Chi Onwurah MP’s speech from the EPC’s Congress 2021 webinar series.
Chris Skidmore MP Webinar Summary
In case you missed it, here is a short summary of Chris Skidmore MP’s speech from the EPC’s Congress 2021 webinar series. A recording of the event is available at Recent...
Compensation and Condonement: Feedback to proposed accreditation regulations
In May 2020, the Engineering Council updated its policy on compensation and condonement, which resulted in new rules being put in place for new cohorts on accredited programmes starting from...
Funding research for a better world
The EPC was honoured to welcome former Universities Minister the Rt Hon Chris Skidmore to delivered a speech as part of our 2021/22 Annual Congress on the theme of ‘A...
Engineering opportunity: letting down the drawbridge
A summary of the EPC's report on the contribution to social mobility made by studying Engineering.
MEDIA RELEASE: Studying Engineering gives ‘turbo boost’ to social mobility, reveals new EPC research
A new study, published today by the Engineering Professors’ Council (EPC), reveals that studying an Engineering degree gives a greater boost to social mobility when compared to other subjects.
HE Commission Public Call for Evidence: University Research and Regional Levelling Up Inquiry
The Higher Education Commission’s inquiry invited stakeholders to respond to its public call for evidence. This consultation ran from May to June 2021 To achieve its ambitions of levelling-up regional...
DfE proposed changes: Post-qualifications admissions in Higher Education
This consultation ran from January 2012 to May 2021. The consultation sought to attain views on whether to change the current system of higher education admissions and move to a...
OfS Consultation on Recurrent Funding for 2021-22
This consultation ran from March to May 2021. The government sent a statutory guidance letter to the Office for Students (OfS), which set out the funds available for financial year...
Brexit impact on UK’s engineering education sector
We are pleased to announce the publication of the EPC’s joint study with UCL’s Centre for Engineering Education on the experiences and perceptions of European (EU) engineering students and academic...
What’s going on with UK Research Funding?
The government has a stated goal of achieving 2.4% of the UK’s GDP to be spent annually on research and development (R&D) by 2027. This would be an increase of...
What is Engineering? Subject coding: HECoS, JACS and engineering, an unofficial guide
If you follow the HE data environment, or even just the policy headlines, you’ll probably have noticed that a new subject coding system - the Higher Education Classification of Subjects...
Data Blog: Become an expert in UCAS engineering data in ten steps
Spoiler: there is no data in this data blog! Instead, we bring you a mixed media UCAS engineering data masterclass to share what we’ve learned about the tools available this...
Policy summary, February 2021
It has been a busy start to the year for HE policy and politics, despite the roll-out of a third UK lockdown at the start of the year – significantly...
Professional recognition post-Brexit
Is my professional title still valid in the EU? Will my combination of academic qualifications and professional experience still count post Brexit? What does the information on recognition of professional...
Trusted Research: How safe is your research?
This was a discussion on the security precautions that academic institutions should take to prevent intellectual property being leaked to competitors or foreign governments. With the aim of preventing research...
Emerging Stronger: Lasting impact from crisis innovation
What have we learned about learning under lockdown? How can we use the experience of trying to deliver high-quality engineering degree programmes to strengthen our teaching in future? This live...
OfS Consultation on Regulating Quality and Standards in HE
This consultation ran from November 2020 to January 2021. The Office for Students consulted on its approach to regulating quality and standards in higher education. Since 2018, OfS' focus has...
Guest blog: EPC Hammermen student prize
Congratulations to Rachel Beel, Glasgow Caledonian University, and to Dan Hicks, University of Brighton, joint winners of the 2020 EPC Hammermen Student Award.
Are the OfS proposals on quality and standards good for the sector?
EPC Chief Executive Johnny Rich provides a critical commentary on the proposals outlined in the latest Office for Student consultation. These are his personal opinions and they do not necessarily...
The OfS consultation on quality and standards in a nutshell
The Office for Students has just launched a consultation on one of the most important changes to its practice since its inception. What does it say? We've summarised the key...
The Great Grading Scandal Engineering Challenge
This guest blog has been kindly provided by Dr Dennis Sherwood of Silver Bullet machine, an intelligent innovation consultancy, who was a speaker at the first of this year's Recruitment...
EPC Recruitment and Admissions Forum 2020 Series Posters
Click on the thumbnails below to view the posters. UK engineering students' maths entry qualifications: grades and non-progression Tim Bullough, University of Liverpool NMITE...
Digital teaching and learning during the coronavirus pandemic: Call for evidence
This call for evidence ran from September to October 2020. This call for evidence sought a wide breadth of sector input and experience to understand the challenges faced, and lessons...
Guest Blog: To trust or not to trust?
Imagine the situation, you have worked tirelessly to make a discovery which is important, potentially revolutionary, or worked long days and nights and sacrificed everything in order to bring that...
Guest Blog: Engineering Council on Revised Standards
The fourth edition of Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes (AHEP) has been published, ahead of the 2020-2021 academic year. There will be a transition period, from publication until the start...
EPC Congress 2020: Hammermen Student Prize - Longlisted posters, Finalist multimedia pitches and Finalist posters
The level of talent this year was outstanding! Please do take a look at the longlisted posters, finalist multimedia pitches and finalist posters all created by the students. We were...