Articles

Pre election Budget 2015

The Engineering Professors’ Council welcomes the Chancellor’s commitment to science and innovation. Engineering has proved to be the powerhouse of economic growth (Royal Academy of Engineering -  Engineering for a...

REF funding implications starting to be announced...

With the Grant letter now issued, we're awaiting the announcements about how the quality-related research funding will be divvie'd up between institutions based on the latest REF results. The Scottish...

Westminster Higher Education Forum - addressing the STEM skills gap

I was pleased to be invited to represent  Engineering Professors’ Council members at the Westminster Higher Education Forum last week, on the subject of "Addressing the STEM Skills Gap". I...

Royal Academy of Engineering: Dowling Review of Business University Collaboration

A review examining how government can support the devlelopment of more effective collaborations between business and university researchers in he UK.

HEFCE: The future of quality assessment in Higher Education

The higher education funding bodies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland invited views on the future of quality assessment in higher education. This first stage sought to attain views on...

Tuition fee bursaries available for MScs - still time to apply

A reminder that tuition fee bursaries for aerospace engineering MScs are still available for study starting in academic year 2015-16, after which this scheme will close. Each worth up to...

Fees for PhD programmes...a question...

Fees for doctoral students (ie home / EU PhDs) seem to be about £4k pa for the few universities I have looked at. Yet, fees for home / EU undergrad...

Royal Society-CaSE Science Ministers' Debate 2015

Engineering Professors' Council incoming President Professor Stephanie Haywood and Executive Director Susan Kay attended CaSE's Science Ministers' debate at the Royal Society, on 14th January.  Some lively questioning - including one...

OfQual: The assessment of practical work in GCSE science

This consultation sets out proposals for how practical work in new GCSE science qualifications due to be taught from 2016 should be assessed. This is a consultation about the assessment...

Winter 2014 Newsletter now available with a round-up of the REF results for engineering...

Our winter 2014 newsletter is now available with a round-up of the year so far, an overview of the REF results for engineering, news of work on a postgraduate information...

Research Excellence Framework 2014

To see how your institution has fared in each of the engineering Units of Assessment, click on the picture and download the Excel workbook (100kB).  You will need Excel version 10....

Science and innovation policy published...

HM Treasury and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have today, 17th December, 2014 published their “Plan for Growth – science and innovation”.  While its tone is reassuring, with a...

Engineers can become talented physics teachers...and support the profession of Engineering...and can earn £20k while they train

In July 2011, the Institute of Physics was invited to the DfE for what we thought was going to be a routine consultation on physics teacher training numbers. In the...

Parliamentary and Scientific Committee lunch - a report and a personal view from incoming EPC President Professor Stephanie Haywood

I was delighted to attend the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee's annual lunch at the House of Lords on behalf of the EPC on 26th November.  We were wondering why security...

MSc Aerospace bursaries

The AeroMSc bursary scheme pays tuition fees for MScs in aerospace for study starting next academic year 2015-16. Applications are open now at www.raeng.org.uk. Please make your eligible STEM graduates...

Engineering Skills: Perkins Review Progress Report published

Last year, The Perkins Review of Engineering Skills was launched. This report aimed to unite educators and employers within the engineering field to improve the supply and quality of engineering...

The Universe of Engineering - call to action

October, 2014.  The Royal Academy of Engineering has published its report: The Universe of Engineering - a call to action. The engineering profession has undergone profound changes over the past...

Engineering Professors' Council Patron receives prestigious award

Congratulations to Professor Dame Julia King, Vice Chancellor of Aston University and Patron of the Engineering Professors’ Council on the award of the Leonardo da Vinci Medal by the European...

HM Treasury and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Science and Innovation Strategy 2014

Long term strategy to make the UK the best place in the world for science and business.

UNIVERSITIES UK: Student funding panel

The reforms to higher education aimed to put students at the heart of the system and ensure quality and value for money for students. The Panel will be considering the...

Perkins Review - university-business interaction survey...please help...

The Perkins Review's Task and Finish Group on developing university-business interaction led by Professor Julia King FREng is examining how relationships might be developed to even better ensure that students are equipped...

Catherine Hobbs in The Engineer, 8 July, 2014

EPC Engineering Education and Employability committee member and Perkins Group contributor on specialist skills, Catherine Hobbs (Head of Department, UWE) was featured in The Engineer, 18 July, 2014 edition, detailing...

DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS INNOVATION AND SKILLS: proposals for long-term capital investment

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills' ambition is to make the UK the best place in the world to do science and research. This is why the government is...

OfQual: Completing GCSE, AS and A Level Reform

This consultation is about what needs to be settled so that the reform of GCSE, AS and A level qualifications in England can be completed

Professor John Perkins' Review of Engineering Skills

Professor John Perkins FREng is the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).  His Review of Engineering Skills was published in November, 2013.  The review endorses the...

Lords express disappointment as Government rejects Committee's findings on immigration policies

Earlier this year, the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee conducted an inquiry into the impact of the changes to immigration regulations on international STEM students.  As a...

The Engineering Professors’ Council (EPC) welcomes the appointment of Greg Clark MP as Minister for Universities, Science and Cities

The Engineering Professors’ Council (EPC) welcomes the appointment of Greg Clark MP as Minister for Universities, Science and Cities Professor Simon Hodgson, President of the EPC, said: "We’re looking forward...

RAEng-EPSRC study on assessing the economic returns to the UK of investment in engineering research and associated training

In the spirit of evidence-based policy development, the RAEng and the EPSRC have joined forces in a project chaired by Professor John Fisher CBE FREng, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University...

Engineers can become talented maths teachers...and support the profession of Engineering...and can earn £25k while they train

Mathematics is an essential component of an engineering education. In the past, a number of engineering students have found the application of mathematics to what is an essentially practical subject,...

Guardian league tables out today - how did you do?

Engineering - chemical Engineering - civil Engineering - electronic and electrical Engineering- general Engineering-materials and mineral Engineering - mechanical ...remember, this one doesn't include any research metrics - it includes...

Reports available from Excellence in Postgraduate Education: Manufacturing, Materials and Design event

Dear All, Thank you to those of you who attended the Excellence in Postgraduate Education: Manufacturing, Materials and Design event on 8th May. Key findings from the presentations and discussions...

“Engineering graduates have been taught to pass exams rather than being given useful skills” - EPC responds

EPC responded to “Engineering graduates have been taught to pass exams rather than being given useful skills” criticism, in The Engineer, 8 May, 2014.

EPC responds to "Engineering graduates have been taught to pass exams rather than being given useful skills" criticism

Not sure how many of you picked up the story on the BBC today: Engineering group warns on skills shortage... We know a few did because some members were perturbed...

Engaging in Engineering awards 2014

As one of the initiatives to celebrate its 20th Anniversary in its current form, the Engineering Professors’ Council offered its members the opportunity to bid for funding for public engagement projects which: help share...

House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee’s inquiry into Business-University collaboration

The House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee has announced a new inquiry into Business-University collaboration.

Laura Pickard in The Engineer, 28 April 2014

EPC 20th Anniversary Award Winner Laura Pickard's winning essay was featured in The Engineer, 28 April, 2014. You can read the article here.

House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee’s inquiry into international STEM students

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,...

Highly commended

We were delighted by the response we received to the competition which was exceedingly challenging - in terms of volume - but enjoyable to judge.  In addition to our three...

Should we be paying more attention to conversion rather than recruitment?

Interesting report published today by the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB): Career Portfolios and the Labour Market for Graduates and Postgraduates in the UK’.  It's the first in...

House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee's inquiry into Business-University collaboration

The House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee has announced a new inquiry into Business-University collaboration. On 28 January 2014, the Committee held a one-off evidence session on Fraunhofer...

House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology : Inquiry into impact of immigration policy on STEM students

The House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee, under the Chairmanship of Lord Krebs, is conducted a short inquiry into the effect on international science, technology, engineering and mathematics...

Susan Kay in Nature, Feb 2014

Susan Kay, Executive Director, was interviewed for an article in Nature (Feb 2014) on the impact of changes to immigration policy on UK science and engineering.

Engineering Professors' Council position statement on Maths and Further Maths A level reform

The Engineering Professors' Council-chaired Mathematics Working Group has just published its position statement on Maths and Further Maths A level reform. Do let us have your views... Mathematics and further...

Review of UK-SPEC completed

The new edition of UK-SPEC is now available the Engineering Council’s website and can be accessed via: https://www.engc.org.uk/engcdocuments/internet/website/UK-SPEC%20third%20edition%20(1).pdf In keeping with the strong support for the previous edition, unnecessary changes...

Do YOU think your university values engineering...?

Nearly two thirds of staff said they did in the survey carried out by the Times Higher Education and published on 30 January, 2014.  In fact, engineering and technology did...

The Incorporation of Hammermen of Glasgow

The Incorporation of Hammermen of Glasgow are generously supporting our student competition: the Engineering Professors' Council and The Hammermen of Glasgow Student Awards. The Incorporation of Hammermen of Glasgow originally...

Top tips for understanding engineering research...

Did anyone see the article “Twenty tips for interpreting scientific claims” in Nature in November (by William J. Sutherland, David Spiegelhalter and Mark Burgman)? It claimed  that “this list will...

The role of teaching excellence and industry and societal impact work on academic selection and promotion

Do you have an opinion on this? Here's your chance to have your say. The Royal Academy of Engineering, supported by the EPC, is conducting a study which is looking...

SET for Britain

The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, of which EPC is a member, has launched its call for submissions to "SET for BRITAIN" which will be held in the House of Commons...

UK engineering giants collaborate to support economic growth

Leading technology businesses, engineering bodies, and the government are to collaborate on a campaign to support growth in UK engineering businesses and promote engineering careers. Engineering for Growth is a partner...

Subject Benchmark Review 2013-15

The subject benchmark statement for engineering was last revised in November 2010, replacing the previous version published in June 2006.  In order to ensure the continuing currency of subject benchmark...

Fellowships for Growth: Building UK Leadership in Engineering

Professor John Perkins’ review of engineering skills has now been published. He endorsed the widely accepted view that engineers add flexibility and resilience to our economy, enable people to take advantage of...

Doubling capacity in UK HE engineering departments

Thanks to the very many of you who took time out to respond to the question posed to us by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) through our...

Susan Kay in Times Higher Education

Susan Kay, Executive Director, was quoted in Jack Grove's article in The Times Higher Education, on the latest (2013/14) enrolment figures to UK engineering departments. Engineering recruitment back on track...

Engineering Council: Accreditation of HE Programmes (AHEP) review - opportunity to contribute

During 2013, the Engineering Council is undertaking the periodic five year review of several key documents including The Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes (AHEP). We consulted initially on this AHEP review...

Witty Review published

The final report of The Witty Review of universities and economic growth has been published this week, following preliminary findings earlier in the year.  The independent review, headed by Sir...

EPC welcomes capital funding for science and engineering

We welcome the announcement by David Willetts on 30 September that £400 million will be invested in higher education science and engineering teaching facilities, including £200 million by HEFCE in...

Should "engineer" be a protected title?

...this seems to be a question that's come up a lot recently. During 2011 the Board of the Engineering Council established a working group to consider issues relating to the status...

20th Anniversary Awards 2014

In 2014, the Engineering Professors' Council (EPC) will be celebrating 20 years since the joining together of the Engineering Professors’ Conference and the Committee for Engineering in Polytechnics in 1994....

The AQA A level science HE Expert Panel

Just a quick update on the work of one of our new Committee members, Mike Bramhall, on behalf of the Engineering Professors' Council.... The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) has...

Government review of the balance of competences between the United Kingdom and the European Union: call for evidence – research and development

The Foreign Secretary launched the Balance of Competences Review in Parliament on 12 July 2012. This follows the Coalition’s commitment to examine the balance of competences between the UK and...

Feedback to members of our input to CaSE meeting with Science Minister

The Campaign for Science and Engineering, of which EPC is a subscribing member, met recently with David Willetts, having collated input from its members.  Here is their summary of the...

BIS announces "investment in postgraduate study"

£75 million investment in removing barriers to postgraduate study Students from disadvantaged backgrounds will be supported in postgraduate study with up to £125 million of extra funding, Universities and Science...

Universities UK International Conference: report from EPC Chair of EES working group

Our "roving reporter" Professor Clive Neal-Sturgess reports from the International Conference held at UUK last week. Well, the headline was that Europe is "back on the agenda" with the UK  so heavily...

HOUSE OF LORDS SELECT COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Inquiry into scientific infrastructure

Department for Education: Reform of vocational qualifications for 16-19 year olds

Letter to Director General for Knowledge and Innovation re priorities for the Science Budget

Funded young researchers refused entry to UK, professional body warns

Jack Grove, Times Higher Education, reports on EPC's concerns about the impact of the visa regulations on research capacity "Funded young researchers refused entry to UK, professional body warns" (30...

New Committee members 2013/14

We are delighted to welcome three new faces to the EPC Committee for 2013/14.   Professors Mike Bramhall and Colin Turner join us as elected members and Professor Peter Excell...

Letter on student number controls for 2014-15

HEFCE has received a letter from the Minister for Universities and Science, requesting that it considers increasing the flexibility of recruitment in 2014-15 for institutions that show strong recruitment patterns....

Department for Education: Reform of the National Curriculum in England

Gove launches technology focused Tech-bacc as vocational equivalent to A levels

Michael Gove has announced the technical baccalaureate qualification “providing an alternative to the A level study route for post-16 education”. It will be introduced for courses beginning in September 2014,...

Report on Government spending on science...

While we all welcome the additional funding announced for science and engineering when other Government departments are seeing cuts, CaSE have published an interim analysis of Government spending on science since...

David Willetts' speech to HEFCE Conference

David Willetts: Higher Education Funding Council for England 2013 HEFCE 18 April 2013 Speech Originally given at Imperial College London. You don’t need me to tell you that this year...

New report published: The Dual Funding Structure for Research in the UK: Research Council and Funding Council Allocation Methods and the Pathways to Impact of UK Academics

Commissioned by the DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS INNOVATION AND SKILLS (BIS) and carried out by THE CENTRE FOR BUSINESS RESEARCH (CBR) AND THE UK INNOVATION RESEARCH CENTRE (UK~IRC), this report analyses...

Why we MUST change the new Design and Technology programme of study...

The Government's proposed draft Design and Technology programme of study would be a huge backward step for a subject that develops vital skills that young people need for the future....

David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, announces £47 million worth of funding for engineering projects

Announced at the Global Grand Challenges Summit (GGCS), organised by the Royal Academy of Engineering and its American and Chinese counterparts, in London on 12/13 March,  five Frontier Engineering projects...

BIS Report on Progression of Apprentices to Higher Education February 2013

BIS Research paper number 107 In New Challenges, New Chances (BIS, Dec 2011) the Government clearly laid out its intention to provide a “ladder of opportunity” through apprenticeships to “clear...

Engineering Council guidance for KIS statements

The Engineering Council, with the support of the EPC, has been undertaking work to help universities make the most of the advantages afforded by promoting the accredited status of their...

HEFCE support for very high cost subjects

Since 2007 HEFCE has provided funding to help secure the provision of four very high-cost STEM subjects: chemistry, physics, chemical engineering and mineral, metallurgy and materials engineering.  In the new funding method from...

Immigration policy

More on the immigration policy debate The OBHE's January newsletter highlights its new report: The Global Race for STEM skills.   It reminds us that the sector often appears to lobby for change...

"Cameron visit (to India) did not tackle key higher education issues"

From University World News: Issue 260 published 20 February, 2013 The visit of British Prime Minister David Cameron to India this week has left Indian students disappointed that he did...

Election of SEFI President

We are delighted to announce that EPC Committee member, Professor Kamel Hawwash (University of Birmingham) has been elected Vice President and President Elect of the European Society of Engineering Education (SEFI). SEFI...

REF 2014

UK higher education institutions (HEIs) plan to submit the work of a slightly increased number of their staff for assessment in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), compared with the...

HEFCE Grant Letter 2013/14

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Minister for Universities and Science have has now confirmed funding allocations and the Government’s priorities for higher education...

IMechE scholarships and studentships

Institution of Mechanical Engineers Each year, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) supports the educational and development needs of students and graduates with scholarships and awards totalling £400,000.  This includes...

Engineering UK: the state of engineering 2013

Engineering UK Engineering UK's annual flagship report Engineering UK: the state of engineering 2013 was launched on 3rd December. It projects that engineering companies will have 2.74 million job openings from 2010...

End of term reports

End of term reports... UCAS has published its end of cycle report for 2012, the year which its Chief Executive Mary Curnock Cook called "one of the most complex and challenging years...

Ideas for student projects

Check out Bespoken from the Blackwood Foundation for details of how to get involved in its Design Challenge.  Brunel, Coventry and Loughborough Universities are already involved and it's a good source of...

HESA to make REF-eligible staff statistics available...

Times Higher Education 9 January, 2013 The proportion of staff submitted by each unit of assessment to the 2014 research excellence framework will become clear for the first time after...

Chancellor's Autumn Statement

While we welcome the additional funding announced for science and engineering in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, CaSE have published an interim analysis of Government spending on science since the 2010 Spending...

Improving the employment chances of our graduates

With Engineering UK's forecast that we need to nearly double the number of engineering graduates to meet demand from employers in the near term (more of which below), do take...

Fred Maillardet - Times Higher Education

EPC former President and committee member Professor Fred Maillardet responds to reports of the "abolition" of examinations in HE - not so for engineering. Made to Measure. Times Higher Education 3rd...

Welcome boost for science and engineering... but some concerns

Chancellor George Osborne has announced a £600M injection into the UK's scientific research infrastructure in his Autumn Statement. The money is directed at eight strands of research outlined by the...

Funding opportunities

For HEIs/academic staff 30 November, 2012 Higher education’s contribution to economic growth: Invitation to submit expressions of interest for funding through the Catalyst Fund.  Deadline 24 January 2013.  See http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/year/2012/cl312012/....

Dik Morling in The Sunday Times

An EPC 2012/13 early enrolments poll and quote from Professor Dik Morling, Chair of EPC's Admissions Working Group was included in an article in The Sunday Times of 18 November,...

"Spanner in the industrial works as engineering degrees lose traction" - Times Higher Education

EPC 2012/13 early enrolments poll indicating faltering demand from overseas students and the financial implications for engineering departments was reported by Jack Grove in the article "Spanner in the industrial...

Impact acceleration accounts

15 November, 2012 Business Secretary Vince Cable today announced a £60m investment in UK universities to help our most pioneering scientists and engineers create successful businesses from their research, improve...

House of Lords Science and Technology Committee: Higher Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects Report mentioned in The Telegraph

In December 2011, The House of Lords Science and Technology Sub-Committee, under the chairmanship of Lord Willis of Knaresborough, opened an inquiry into higher education in STEM subjects (science, technology,...

A level reform

The Engineering Professors' Council response was one of the almost 1,000 submissions to this consultation which ran for 3 months over the summer of this year. The outcome was announced...