News & events
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...
News
6th ICEBE - International Conference on Engineering and Business Education
Tuesday, October 8th, 2013 The 6th ICEBE will be held in Windhoek, Namibia on October 8-10. Over the past decade, this event has offered a unique opportunity for academics, business...
Events
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....
Events
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...
Opinions
International Conference on Manufacturing Research 2013
The 11th International Conference on Manufacturing Research (ICMR2013) The International Conference on Manufacturing Research is a major event for academics and industrialists engaged in manufacturing research. Held annually in the UK...
Events
Different approaches to engineering doctorates across Europe
Our “roving reporter” and Chair of the Engineering Education, Employability and Skills sub Committee at the EPC, Clive Neal-Sturgess has been on the road again. This time, he was representing...
Events
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...
News
15th International Conference on Engineering & Product Design Education
The 15th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education will bring together representatives from education, design practice, industry and government agencies that have an interest in developing new approaches...
Events
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...
Consultations
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...
Campaigns
HEA STEM Event (Engineering and Materials): Workshop for postgraduate students who teach
The day will include sessions on: Assessment and Feedback, OER (Open Educational Resources), Teaching for Diversity, Facilitating Small Group Teaching, & Professional Development and the HEA.
Events
2013 Research in Engineering Education Symposium
The 2013 Research in Engineering Education Symposium (REES2013) will be held on 4-6 July 2013 in Kuala Lumpur. This symposium follows ICREE 2007 in Hawaii, USA, REES 2008 in Davos,...
Events
4th International Research Symposium on Problem Based Learning
The 4th International Research Symposium on Problem Based Learning will be organised on July 2-3 2013, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in collaboration with the...
Events
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...
Events
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...
News
2013 Annual Meeting of the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS)
The 2013 Annual Meeting of the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS) will be held June 26-28 2013 in Budapest, Hungary. The main event will be...
Events
2013 Manufacturing Professors Forum and Dinner
We now have a strong programme for our 10th annual meeting around the theme ‘The Future of Manufacturing’. Speakers will include the manufacturing heads from BIS, EPSRC and TSB, industrialists from...
Events
HEA Event: Building Confident Engineers
Successful engineering graduates require confidence in order to solve new problems, work with colleagues and excel in their careers. It has also been identified that confident engineering graduates are more...
Events
2013 EFMD Annual Conference
The 2013 EFMD Annual Conference will be held in Brussels, BE on June, 9-11. Please check back for information on the program, hotel, and registration in early 2013. Theme: Does...
Events
REM Vienna 2013
The 14th international Workshop on Research and Education in Mechatronics will take place in Vienna on the 6th & 7th of June 2013. The event will be organised by the...
Events
Joint Conference ERSCP-EMSU: ‘Bridges for a more sustainable future: uniting continents and societies’ 5th University - Business Forum
Joint Conference ERSCP-EMSU: ‘Bridges for a more sustainable future: uniting continents and societies’ Tuesday, June 4th, 2013 The ERSCP-EMSU 2013 will take place in Istanbul, Turkey, 4-7 June 2013. The...
Events
57th ECCE General Meeting
The 57th ECCE General Meeting will be held in Porto, Portugal on May 31- June 1. For more information go to www.ecceengineers.eu.
Events
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...
Campaigns
Department for Education: Reform of vocational qualifications for 16-19 year olds
Consultations
45th EUCEN Conference
The 45th EUCEN Conference will be held in the University of Geneva, Charmey, Switzerland on May 29‐31, 2013 and is organised by the European Universities Continuing Education Network. Transferring Knowledge...
Events
HE Academy event: Changing the Learning Landscape - Social Media in Engineering & Mathematics
Academic staff who teach or directly manage degree programmes in the Engineering & Mathematics disciplines are invited to book onto the Changing the Learning Landscape (CLL) workshop ‘Social Media in...
Events
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...
News
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....
Consultations
Department for Education: Reform of the National Curriculum in England
Consultations
ASEE - 120th Annual Conference
June 23 – 26, 2013 – Atlanta, Georgia The ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition hosts more than 400 technical sessions, with peer-reviewed papers spanning all disciplines of engineering education. Attendees...
Events
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,...
News
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...
Research papers
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...
Events
EPC Annual General Meeting
The 19th Annual General Meeting of the Engineering Professors’ Council will be held in the Portland Building, University of Portsmouth, PO1 3AH on Tuesday 16 April, 2013 at 16:00 during...
Events
Engineering Professors' Council Annual Congress 2013
The Engineering Professors' Council Annual Congress 2013 took place at the University of Portsmouth on 16/17 April 2013 with the theme: Engineering in Higher Education: Investing for Impact.
Events
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...
Reports
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....
Campaigns
Westminster Higher Education Forum event: The internationalisation of Higher Education - UK competitiveness, student mobility and the development of overseas campuses
Guests of Honour: Maddalaine Ansell, Head of International Knowledge & Innovation Unit, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Professor Colin Riordan, Chair, UK Higher Education International Unit (UKHEIU) and...
Events
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...
News
HE STEM (engineering): workshop for postgraduate students who teach
The workshop is designed for postgraduate students who are new to teaching in Engineering. It will be delivered by experienced academics who are subject specialists in education and Engineering and...
Events
Westminster Higher Education Forum event: Research and innovation in the UK - increasing the commercialisation of research and the impact of European reforms
As the Government concludes its National Curriculum review, this Westminster Higher Education Forum seminar focuses on the content of the new curriculum for Design and Technology (D&T) for each Key...
Events
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...
Research papers
Inspiring engineers of the future - get involved
The week of March 11th-15th will see an unprecedented number of engineers going into schools to give inspirational talks to students about the work they do and how they chose...
Events
Technology Subjects in the National Curriculum
Education for Engineering (E4E) invites you to a conference examining the new Programmes of Study for Design and Technology and ICT in the National Curriculum. Matthew Hancock MP, Parliamentary Undersecretary...
Events
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...
Toolkits
Leadership: Never Underestimate the Power of Example
Women in significant leadership roles share how they – and you – are poised to change the world. Who inspired them, how and what are the best lessons they’ve learned...
Events
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...
Reports
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...
News
"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...
Press & media
Westminster Higher Education Forum event: Reviewing the new maths curriculum
As the Government concludes its National Curriculum Review, this timely seminar focuses on content of the proposed new Programme of Study (PoS) for Maths, due to be introduced into schools...
Events
Westminster Higher Education Forum event: Reviewing the new Design and Technology Curriculum
As the Government concludes its National Curriculum review, this Westminster Higher Education Forum seminar focuses on the content of the new curriculum for Design and Technology (D&T) for each Key...
Events
Westminster Higher Education Forum event: Open access research and the future for academic publishing
Bringing together key stakeholders – including academics and university leaders, the publishing industry, science-based businesses, research councils and other research-funding organisations – with policymakers, this Westminster Higher Education Forum seminar...
Events
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...
News
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...
Research papers
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...
News
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...
Reports
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...
Research papers
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...
News
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...
Resources
PHOMME 2013 Conference
The 2013 PHOMME Conference, in conjunction with PHEE (Professors and Heads of Electrical and Electronic Engineering) was held at the IET Savoy Place, London on 9th January 2013.
Events
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...
Research papers
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...
News
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...
News
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...
Campaigns
HE Academy: Undertaking Pedagogic Research in the HE STEM Disciplines
On the 7/8 June 2012, the National HE STEM Programme, in conjunction with the Royal Society of Chemistry and sigma, held a two-day workshop aimed at supporting those wishing to...
Events
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...
News
Westminster Higher Education Forum event: the way forward for STEM subjects for higher education
Timed to follow both the House of Lords Science and Technology Sub-Committee Inquiry and subsequent Government response, delegates will look at the quality and content of STEM degree programmes; how...
Events
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/....
Resources
Green skills for Green Jobs Summit
The summit will bring together key stakeholders from government, business and academia to establish how the UK is preparing to take the lead in the global green skills race. Whilst...
Events
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,...
Campaigns
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,...
Press & media
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...
News
"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...
Campaigns
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...
Reports
International Student Recruitment: Understanding and Complying with the Points Based Immigration System
International Student Recruitment: Understanding and Complying with the Points Based Immigration System Central London Monday 12th November 2012 Event Details Website Register to Attend Earlier this year, new measures designed...
Events
The Future of Postgraduate Education
Westminster Higher Education Forum 17 October 2012: The Future for Postgraduate Education There is clearly widespread concern about the lack of progress on funding for postgraduate education. On 17th October,...
Events
Recruitment and Admissions Forum 2012
The Recruitment and Admissions Forum took place at the Royal Academy of Engineering on 7th November 2012. The theme was "Uncertain times in university recruitment and admissions: protecting the future...
Events
Osborne support for new vocational qualifications
Published: 12:10am, 2nd November 2012 Updated: 11:07am, 2nd November 2012 New vocational qualifications in engineering will help Britain thrive in the global economy, Chancellor George Osborne has said. The Royal...
News
House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee - oral evidence on engineering skills
On 24th October 2012, the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee heard oral evidence on the inquiry into engineering skills. “We compete in a high labour cost economy;...
News
Improving social mobility...
The Milburn Report: University Challenge: How Higher Education Can Advance Social Mobility was published earlier this month. In it, the importance of foundation degrees in supporting those from disadvantaged social...
News
Westminster Higher Education Forum event: the way forward for graduate employability
Bringing together key policymakers with stakeholders – including university leaders and careers advice staff, graduate recruiters and social mobility groups – this seminar will provide an opportunity to consider how...
Events
ACED Conference 2012
The ACED Annual Conference was held on 18-19 October 2012 at the Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Programme Session 1a – Attitudes to Assessment (Panel Session) Educationalist view – Yaz...
Events
Westminster Higher Education Forum event: The Future for Post-graduate education
As Government implements the recommendations of Sir Adrian Smith’s March 2010 review, this timely seminar focuses on the future of post-graduate education in the UK, at both Master’s and doctoral...
Events
US study shows that people who majored in engineering had the highest earnings of any bachelor’s degree field
The field of bachelor’s degree makes a considerable difference in a college graduate’s annual earnings, according to 2011 American Community Survey (ACS) data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Reports
Messages about maths education and the contribution of engineering to the economy are the same over the pond...
One of the aerospace industry's most respected leaders said Wednesday that government and industry badly need to take steps to reform the U.S. education system to dramatically boost teaching of...
News
...but a somewhat different situation in university recruitment of engineering professors in the US compared with the UK...
Purdue University plans to hire more than 100 new engineering professors and boost engineering enrolment by 10 percent over the next five years to help move the school to the...
News
Built in Britain: has Britain finally rediscovered its great tradition of epic engineering?
Victorian Britain was famous for its magnificent feats of engineering, but over a century later our once groundbreaking systems are aged and creaking. In this two part series, Evan Davis...
Press & media
Royal Academy of Engineering publishes report...
…on the importance of engineering skills to the economy. Read it here: Jobs and growth: the importance of engineering skills to the UK.
Reports
IPPR call for evidence on “The Future of Higher Education in England”
Consultations
Online engineering courses?
The American Society for Engineering Education reports that Columbia University is to offer engineering courses through Coursera.
News
HEA STEM: New to Teaching (NTT) residential workshop
This two-day residential workshop is intended for teaching staff who are newly-appointed within the last three years to an academic post in materials and engineering subjects at UK HEIs. The...
Events
International Conference on Manufacturing Research 2012
The International Conference on Manufacturing Research 2012 will take place on the 11-13 September 2012 at Aston University. There will be a strong emphasis on industrial relevance and senior executives...
Events
HEA STEM: Transitions, employability and professional identity: case study in architecture
The seminar will showcase and reflect on learning activities with level 4 architecture students to introduce them both to higher education and the construction of a professional identity. It will...
Events
Mathematics for Engineering: Entry to Engineering Advisory Panel
Entry to Engineering Advisory Panel Mathematics is a subject of enormous importance to the education of engineers in all disciplines. This importance is illustrated by the fact the Engineering Professors’...
Campaigns
Output standards
In response to concerns expressed by Government, employers and the Engineering Council over the lack of a common format for the articulation of the output standards of engineering graduates, the...
EPC policies
Open access issues...
Two complementary reports were published in June addressing the issue of Open Access from different perspectives. Firstly the Finch Report “Accessibility, sustainability, excellence: how to expand access to research publications”...