The EPC’s Complex Systems Toolkit provides accessible, practical resources for embedding complex systems into engineering education. The Complex Systems Toolkit is supported by Quanser.
The EPC’s Teaching activities are resources that you can access to help you know what to integrate and implement. These can include case studies, which provide examples of complex systems which can be directly utilised in teaching with the suggested tools, as well as other classroom activities such as coursework, project briefs, lesson plans, demonstration simulations, or other exercises.
| Teaching resource | Topic | Keywords | Disciplines | Related INCOSE Competencies | AHEP4 mapping | Educational level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case study | ||||||
| Island energy transition | Complex systems modelling in renewable energy transition | Available soon | Electrical engineering; Systems engineering; Environmental engineering; Computer science; Energy. | Systems thinking; Systems modelling and analysis; Configuration management; Requirements definition; Communication; Verification; Validation. | Analytical tools and techniques; Integrated / systems approach; Sustainability; Communication. | Advanced |
| Managing floods in urban infrastructure | Applying Cynefin framework for climate resilience | Available soon | Civil engineering; Environmental engineering; General engineering. | Systems thinking; Requirements definition; Communication; Design for; Critical thinking. | Analytical tools and techniques; Integrated / systems approach; Sustainability; Communication. | Beginner; intermediate. |
| Using fault tree analysis in a rail failure investigation | Rail accident investigation and material failure analysis using systems thinking | Available soon | Mineral, metallurgy & materials engineering; Civil engineering. | Systems thinking; Systems modelling and analysis; Critical thinking. | Analytical tools and techniques; Integrated / systems approach; Design; Ethics; Communication. | Intermediate; Advanced. |
| Other teaching activity | ||||||
| Modelling complexity in industrial decarbonisation | Simulating pinch analysis and multi-stakeholder trade-offs | Available soon | Energy engineering; Chemical engineering; Process systems engineering; Mechanical engineering; Industrial engineering. | Systems thinking; Systems modelling and analysis; Critical thinking. | Analytical tools and techniques; Integrated / systems approach; Science, mathematics and engineering principles; Problem analysis; Design. | Intermediate. |
| Using a participatory modelling approach to urban regeneration | Illuminating complex interactions in a system through participatory modelling methods | Available soon | Civil engineering; Any. | Systems thinking; Systems modelling and analysis; Critical thinking. | Analytical tools and techniques; Integrated / systems approach; Design; Practical and workshop skills. | Intermediate; advanced. |
| Climate science and policy solutions workshops | Sociotechnical aspects of implementing renewable energy systems | Available soon | Any. | Systems thinking; Critical thinking. | Integrated / systems approach; Problem analysis; Sustainability; Science, mathematics, and engineering principles. | Beginner. |
| LLM-driven interactive simulation for complex sociotechnical systems | Student created interactive simulation for complex sociotechnical systems | Available soon | Any. | Systems thinking; Life cycle; Configuration management; Requirements definition Verification; Validation. | Analytical tools and techniques; Integrated / systems approach; Ethics; Communication. | Intermediate. |
| Coming soon | ||||||
| Coming soon |
Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely that of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the Engineering Professors’ Council or the Toolkit sponsors and supporters.