Andrew

1
LoughboroughSystems
Meeting the needs of Industry
2
Systems Engineering Capability - the reward for
long term commitment

• Background
• Evidence
• Barriers
• Ongoing Challenges

3
Systems Engineering Capability - the reward for
long term commitment

• Background
• New undergraduate programme requiring a
  curriculum derived entirely from first
  principles.
• Industry driven
• 20 years

4
Systems Engineering Capability - the reward for
long term commitment

• An initiative that brings about sustained change
  to learning opportunities needs
• champions with vision, determination and courage,
  
• funding,
• appropriate formal structures and
• trusted informal relationships.

5
Meeting the needs of industry - evidence of
success

• Continuous support for 20 years
• additional funding for programme itself
• sponsorship for undergraduates
• direct company involvement
• new partners

6
Meeting the needs of industry - evidence of
success

• Over 500 systems engineers graduated since 97
  and all enjoy outstandingly high graduate
  employment
• Top Electronic and Electrical Engineering
  Department in the UK for first destination in
  graduate level posts - 96.
• The Complete University Guide University
  League Table 2010
• The Independent April 09

7
Meeting the needs of industry - evidence of
success
Feedback from alumni in senior engineering
positions. This breadth of learning has served
me well in the Aerospace industry where products
draw on technologies from multiple disciplines
and are integrated into highly complex systems.
With the exception of a few specialists areas,
for example Aerodynamics, I have found the depth
of knowledge gained during my studies sufficient
for most purposes. Graduate - Now Navigation
Engineering Manager (Nimrod), BAE Systems
I was immediately useful to the company and able
to work on real projects from day onethe
advantages this has given me over other graduates
are still evident today, 7 years into my working
life... Graduate - Now a Level 7 Software
Engineer, Qinetiq
8
Meeting the needs of industry - evidence of
success

• University benefits
• Portfolio development in Systems Engineering
  education
• A full range of awards and short courses at
  postgraduate and post-experience level.
• Headstart for Schools and Colleges
• Best practice transferred into other UG
  programmes
• New field of research
• RSSE
• SEDC
• SEIC

9
Meeting the needs of industry - barriers

• Culture and Tradition
• We have very different reasons for existing.
• Drivers and goals
• Assumptions
• Resistance to change
• Stakeholder trades

10
Meeting the needs of industry - barriers

• University Processes
• Administration
• Financial models
• Curriculum delivery

11
Meeting the needs of industry - barriers

• Resources
• Money
• Time
• People
• champions on both sides
• senior management and operational levels

12
Meeting the needs of industry - Ongoing challenges

• Sustainability
• Money
• People
• Curriculum maintenance
• Institutions
• Accreditation
• Academic integrity
• Recruitment of undergraduates

13
Meeting the needs of industry

• Thank you
• Questions?