Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education Engineering Professors’ Council Professor Fred Maillardet

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education Origin and role of EPC Formed in 1994 from predecessor bodies: EPC (1959) and CEP (1981) Every university in the UK with an engineering department is in membership: University subscription basis Open to all senior engineering academics “EPC exists to promote excellence in Engineering Higher Education”

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education Diploma in Engineering HoDoMS Annual Conference Birmingham 7-8 th April 2008

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education Origin of EPC Maths Working Group EPC concern over falling maths standards from the early 1990s Others have shared our concerns: “The maths problem” (IMA in 1995) and “Crisis in maths” (UCAS in 2002)…… EPC specific concerns: algebraic manipulation, basic geometry and trigonometry, and general fluency in handling number concepts

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education Maths Working Group Virtual Working Group formed in 2001 Real Working Group formed in 2006: “To improve the general standard of mathematics of entrants to university engineering degree courses” Initial membership: EPC, IMA, LMS, HoDoMS, HEA ESC, IoP, Deans of Science, UCAS

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education Activities Support for “Functional Maths” developments Engagement with the QCA over curriculum changes Support for IMA over “More Maths Grads” Participation in ACME events Support for the “Further Maths Network” Input to “Cambridge Pre-University Syllabus” proposals

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education The New Engineering Diploma Level Three EPC expressed general support for the need to reduce the academic-vocational divide However, now confused by the “Academic Diplomas” launched in 2007! Diplomas designed to lead to work or apprenticeships or further study…..EPC focusing on the latter

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education Initial concerns EPC was concerned when the details were first published in 2007 re: The maths content Teachers ability to deliver The level of real industrial support Concern expressed to the Chair of the Select Committee…….

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education Maths Task Group EPC and ESC formed a special Maths Task Group to try to address these issues Membership increased to include NCETM, MEI, QCA and DDP The Task Group quickly reached a consensus on what was required

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education Module proposed Module based on Loughborough University Foundation Course This course was designed for students without ‘A’ level maths who wish to progress to study engineering at degree level The subsequent degree performance of students taking this course has often exceeded ‘A’ level entrants

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education Module length and coverage Module is 180 GLH (although originally proposed as 120 GLH) Specialist Learning – i.e. optional for those wishing to progress to study engineering at degree level Coverage broadly similar to ‘A’ level

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education Applications orientation Teaching maths in the context of applications is seen as critical “Exemplars” are being developed for each maths topic to illustrate real engineering applications Each exemplar will be supported by a relevant industrial company – JCB, Rolls Royce….

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education Availability and support DCSF is funding the exemplar development Dr. Sapna Somani has been engaged full time to work up exemplar details in conjunction with industry DCSF, NCETM and FMN are all exploring how to provide the teacher support recognised as still needed

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education Spreading the word A series of workshops are being run to inform the wide range of potential stakeholders The Task Group is working directly with Awarding Bodies and the QCA to mount the module in September 2008

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education Conclusions The three initial concerns are all being addressed, teacher support being the most challenging Work is still needed to convince some of our university Admissions Tutors to accept the Diploma

Promoting Excellence in Engineering Higher Education HoDoMS Annual Conference Thank you for listening