Articles
Brexit impact on engineering research will scar economy nationally and regionally, shows new EPC report
MEDIA RELEASE Contact: Johnny Rich, 078-1111 4292Date: 28th March 2019For immediate release As the political crisis over Brexit continues in Parliament, an exclusive new analysis by the Engineering Professors’ Council...
The impact of Brexit on engineering research funding
Using exclusive analysis, the EPC has produced an important insight into the impact that Brexit will have on UK engineering research. The findings are far-reaching and disturbing. A briefing is...
Teaching students to learn for themselves
Dr Sunny Bains, author of a new book on emerging technologies, examines how to support students to make use of the technical literature and to look beyond it. The best...
Engineering higher education faces multiple threats, according to new landmark report
A worrying convergence of challenges, outlined in a high-profile report published today, is threatening the vital role of higher education in supporting the UK’s engineering sector, a critical part of...
DATA BLOG: First glimpse HESA student data for 2017/18 highlights a decline in part-time, postgraduate, and male enrolments
First glimpse official 2017/8 HESA student data appears static in the Engineering and technology subject group (https://www.hesa.ac.uk/news/17-01-2019/sb252-higher-education-student-statistics/subjects). A closer look at the absolute numbers shows a nominal one-year fall in...
EPC engineering enrolments survey
EPC Engineering Enrolments Survey Results 2018/19 Firstly, a huge thank you for your contributions which the Recruitment and Admissions Forum confirmed are highly valued by our members. You told us...
International Baccalaureate: the perfect preparation for engineers?
This blog has been written for the EPC by Henry Coverdale, Director of Post 16 Education at King Edward's School in Birmingham. Henry was the author of one of the posters...
Applications open for RAEng Engineering Leaders Scholarship
Are your students the next generation of engineering leaders? Undergraduates who are leaders, or act as role models in your institution or their community should be encouraged to apply to...
Recruitment and admissions forum 2018 presentations
RA Forum programme 2018 Download presentation KEYNOTE: Engineering admissions: trends in applications, offers & acceptances Helen Thorne MBE, Director, External Relations, UCAS ATTRACTION: Engineers in the making What attracts...
Primary Engineer
Primary Engineer, the organisation which inspires children, pupils and teachers to consider engineering through continued professional development, whole class project work, competitions and exhibitions has partnered with the Engineering Professors’...
DATA BLOG: Will this year's undergraduate engineering intake really be bad news?
An interim assessment of placed UCAS applicants for this autumn highlights that engineering follows a sector-wide slide in placed applicants overall but bucks a sector increase in applicants placed from...
Engineering enrolments survey 2018-19
Download an .xlsx version of the EPC engineering enrolments survey Go to the online survey The EPC's annual engineering enrolment survey gives us all a first glance at engineering enrolments...
Creating a new breed of ‘supergrads’
Creating a new breed of ‘supergrads’ When it comes to new approaches to education, what happens in engineering is the canary in the mine. Along with medicine no discipline more...
Experience enhanced: improving engineering degree apprenticeships
Following its publication of the landmark report calling for changes to degree apprenticeships to deliver a new breed of ‘supergrads’ the EPC has now published all recommendations, including a full...
REF 2021 full EPC member consultation
The UK’s HE funding bodies have set out detailed arrangements for REF 2021 and are seeking views from subject communities on the draft Panel criteria publication developed by the REF...
Guest blog: Does a career in engineering pay?
By Kate Webster, the Engineering Council Engineering students at university are in the ideal place to learn and develop – encouraging them to become professionally registered puts them on a...
The Hammermen Award, the Mongol Rally and Mental Health
In May at the EPC Annual Congress 2018 at Harper Adams University, we announced the winner of this year's Hammermen Student Award, generously sponsored by the Hammermen of Glasgow in...
EPC Equality, Inclusion and Diversity policy statement agreed by AGM
The EPC is an inclusive organisation that is fully committed to the principles of fair treatment and to valuing diversity. We recognise that by encouraging equality and diversity in all...
Annual Congress 2018 Summary
The EPC Annual Congress 2018: Fit for the Future, was hosted by Harper Adams University. Following an eclectic selection of hands-on activities and entertainment, Congress 2018 was officially opened by...
Chief Executive invites EPC to influence Engineering Council review of UKSPEC
At this year's EPC Congress, Alasdair Coates's invited the EPC - as the representative body of engineering in higher education - to input to the current review that is being...
Congress 2018
[wptabs type="accordion"] [wptabtitle] The theme for this year’s Congress was ‘Fit for the Future’, where we explored how we need to adapt teaching, research and our relationship with industry...
New Approaches to Engineering HE: The Six Facets
The EPC and IET are delighted to launch six case study examples for each of the six new approaches. We believe this proves that the required changes can be achieved...
DATA BLOG: The state of engineering? Not too shabby
The supply of skilled engineers may not yet be being met by the education pipeline, but the evidence base required by the sector to make sound strategic decisions is met...
Statement on strike action over USS Pensions
As the EPC represents both institutional members and individuals, we cannot directly take sides in supporting or opposing the current strike action. That said, we understand this is an issue...
DATA BLOG: UCAS Engineering applications down but applications from women up
UCAS’ latest application data released today gives us a first glimpse into this Autumn’s enrolments into HE (15 January deadline). Applications to Engineering (totalling 144½ thousand) are down by 1.7%...
DATA BLOG: New year, new data? Can aging stats really help today’s strategies?
Last week, UCAS completed its suite of 2017 data when it published detailed stats for last autumn’s undergraduate admissions to the UK’s largest universities and colleges. But while the accepted...
Recruitment and Admissions Forum presentations 2017
Programme Download presentation Keynote 1 - Is ‘engineering’ a broken brand for applicants? Mary Curnock Cook OBE Workshop 1 - What entry requirements do you need? Dr Neil Cooke, Birmingham...
Nomination for REF 2021 Engineering Panel
The Engineering Professors' Council is a nominating body for the Research Excellence Framework and, as such, we have been invited to nominate members of the engineering panel. If you would...
Party Conferences 2017
From Johnny Rich, EPC Chief Executive... The Party Conference season is an opportunity to bend the ears of politicians, policymakers and thought leaders at a time when they're relaxed and...
EPC Recruitment and Admissions Forum 2017
This year’s Engineering Professors’ Council Recruitment and Admissions Forum will be held on 15th November at Manchester Metropolitan University. We are delighted to announce not one, but two not-to-be-missed keynote speakers...
Engineering in Society – new module for engineering citizenship
Undergraduate student engineers at UWE Bristol will get the chance to learn about engineering citizenship from September. A new module is being launched to highlight the importance of professional development,...
DLHE 2015/16 - Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education
We've updated our engineering DLHE datasets. Check out our Member’s portal on the website. If you haven't received the updated password to access the portal, please get in touch with...
Conference Report: New Approaches to Engineering in HE
On 22nd May 2017, in association with the IET, the EPC held a landmark conference at the Institution of Engineering and Technology in London to lay out a bold new vision...
EPC Strategic Plan 2017
The EPC has published Making Waves, a coordinated plan of changes and activities to maximise our effectiveness in representing engineering academics in national policy, to engage more members at all...
RAEng response to the Government Green Paper on Industrial Strategy - have your say
The Royal Academy of Engineering is gathering as much opinion and evidence from the engineering community to respond to the Industrial Strategy. There are several ways in which engineers can contribute...
Brexit impact in Engineering Higher Education
Updated 28/03/19 As the political crisis over Brexit continues in Parliament, an exclusive analysis by the Engineering Professors’ Council reveals that a cascade of effects – resulting simply from Brexit’s...
EPC Degree Apprenticeships Toolkit
The EPC is pleased to announce the launch of its new Degree Apprenticeships Toolkit for Engineering Departments which can be found on our website at the following link: Degree Apprenticeships Toolkit...
EPC President speaking on Estuary TV
[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://beta.epc.ac.uk/uploads/2016/08/The-Art-of-Engineering.mp4"][/video] Acknowledgement: The Culture Zone Engineering Professors' Council (EPC) President, Professor Stephanie Haywood of the University of Hull, appeared on Estuary TV last Friday in a segment...
Lord Stern’s Review of the Research Excellence Framework
President of the British Academy Lord Nicholas Stern was commissioned by the government to carry out the review of the Research Excellence Framework (REF). The independent report "Building on Success and...
Could your students inspire the engineers of the future?
Teaching physics is not necessarily the first thing that comes to mind as a career for an engineering graduate. However, it is a rewarding, valuable and important occupation and engineers...
Professor Helen Atkinson among ‘Top 50 Women in Engineering’
An inaugural list of the top 50 Women in Engineering, featuring former EPC President and University of Leicester Head of Engineering Professor Helen Atkinson, was published in the Daily Telegraph...
“Children as Engineers – Paired Peer Mentors in Primary Schools”
EPC’s Engaging in Engineering Public Engagement Grant Award 2014 At its 2014 Congress, the Engineering Professors' Council launched a public engagement funding call: Engaging in Engineering. One of the two winning projects...
Short poll: Support for early career academic and research staff in engineering
The Engineering Professors’ Council (EPC) is the representative body for engineering in higher education. But we're not just for professors... Our primary purpose is to provide a forum at which all...
Challenges of introducing and designing new engineering programmes...
Grant Campbell and Daniel Belton at the University of Huddersfield have just published this useful paper about introducing a new programme in a high cost subject at a time of...
GEDC Airbus Diversity Award 2016
The Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC) Airbus Diversity Award is sponsored by Airbus and aims to encourage and acknowledge work that inspires students of all profiles and backgrounds to study and succeed in...
A plethora of publications...
The much-anticipated Wakeham and Shadbolt Reviews were published this week (16th May) alongside the Higher Education White Paper giving the sector much to chew over. Sir William Wakeham, this year's...
EPC President speaking on BBC Look North
[video width="640" height="360" mp4="https://beta.epc.ac.uk/uploads/2016/05/20160428-SKH-Look-North.mp4"][/video] Acknowledgement: BBC Look North Engineering Professors' Council (EPC) President, Professor Stephanie Haywood of the University of Hull, appeared on BBC's Look North last week in a...
University College London partners with Primary Engineer to bring Special Leaders Award to London Schools
The Faculty of Engineering Sciences at University College London (UCL) is one of the EPC member organisations that has been working with Primary Engineer to run the Special Leaders Award...
IET's Engineering and Technology magazine: "Brexit: science, engineering and technology says no"
The IET's Engineering and Technology magazine reported on the EPC's and Campaign for Science and Engineering (Case) report, published in December, this week following attendance at EPC's AGM last week,...
Come and work for us...
The Engineering Professors’ Council (EPC) is looking for its next Executive Director. Following a highly successful four years for the Council, our Executive Director, Susan Kay, is moving on to...
Engineering Professors' Council President's Prize 2016
Over 50 senior staff from university engineering departments across the UK gathered for the Engineering Professors' Council's Annual General Meeting yesterday (6th April, 2016) at Senate House, University of London...
Quick poll: how does your university allocate its QR funding
[poll id='13'] If you've some more time, take a few minutes to provide input to our response to the Stern Review...
Engineering UK: State of Engineering 2016
repo". Its three overriding messages are: that engineering and skilled engineers make a significant contribution to the UK economy and its productivity as well as working towards mitigating the grand global challenges of...
Our position on the TEF
Thanks to all those who took the time to let us have their thoughts on the proposals for the Teaching Excellence Framework - and particularly to those who took part...
AS and A level reform: regulations for maths and further maths
Earlier this month, OfQual launched one of a series of consultations on AS and A level reform - specifically on maths, further maths and design and technology. This consultation is...
EPC December newsletter now available...
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The role of EU membership in UK science and engineering research
The Engineering Professors' Council and CaSE launched a joint report in December, 2015 on the ‘Role of EU membership in UK science and engineering research’. Download the press release. The full report...
Comprehensive Spending Review
Quick summary of today's CSR The government will protect the £4.7 billion science budget in real terms over the Parliament Engineering mentions: Support will be provided to secure launch funding...
The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) - have your say
The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) As we write, we’re still waiting for the much-trailed Green Paper from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which, alongside other issues which we’re...
The public PhD viva
In his article in the Times Higher on 22nd October, UCL’s Professor of Chemical Engineering and Head of the Doctoral School, David Bogle, examines the concept of the public PhD...
Engineering conversion course pilot scheme – Invitation to bid for funding
HEFCE is inviting applications for new funding to support the development of conversion courses in engineering (England only). This pilot scheme aims to help the higher education sector develop more...
EPC former President Helen Atkinson meets Will.I.Am
September 15/16 2015 The Chinese Academy of Engineering recently hosted a major international summit on Global Grand Challenges, a series inspired by the NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering , 14 ambitious goals...
The European Society for Engineering Education (SEFI) invites feedback on position paper on engineering skills
SEFI invites comments and feedback on this Position Paper and a longer discussion paper which will be available at www.sefi.be from October. Input will be reviewed by the SEFI Working ...
Programme analysis of HEFCE’s Postgraduate Support Scheme: Final report published
HEFCE has now published its report on the Postgraduate Support Scheme pilot. EPC members will recall that Paul Wakeling of the University of York was commissioned to conduct an evaluation...
Consultation on GCSE and A level Statistics
Dear all Consultations are also open on GCSE and A level Statistics. Please find links to both below: Ofqual consultation DfE consultation
Consultation on reform of GCSE, AS and A level Electronics qualifications
Dear all, It was announced this morning that DfE has confirmed that the development work for the reformed GCSE, AS and A level Electronics qualifications will continue through to the...
Calling keen engineers with writing skills...
Calling all keen engineers with great writing skills to help with the science notes for a popular science series called Outrageous Acts of Science for the Discovery Channel. The series is running...
Children as Engineers - inspiring a generation...
“I've really enjoyed this project because not only did I feel like I was teaching a class, I felt like I was teaching a generation”. Student Engineer At its 2014...
New GCSEs, AS and A levels for first teaching from 2017 - Engineering
These consultations ask for views on reformed subject content for a number of GCSE, AS and A level subjects which will be first taught in schools from 2017. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/gcse-and-a-level-reform-content-for-teaching-from-september-2017 and...
GCSE reform: Design and Technology
This consultation seeks views on proposed subject content for GCSE design and technology which will be introduced for first teaching from September 2017. The proposed subject content requirements will become...
Pathways to success in engineering degrees and careers
The Royal Academy of Engineering has, this month, published its report "Pathways to success in engineering degrees and careers". Members will recall the author, Dr Tim Bullough, of the University...
Passionate about enthusing the next generation of engineers? Encourage someone to become a Young Engineers fieldworker...
Young Engineers Fieldworker Full time - London, South East and the South West Salary range £24,000 - £28,000 depending on experience Young Engineers is one of the UK’s leading charities...
Entry to Engineering in higher education: advisory panel
To start a discussion thread - please contact Sue Kay (s.kay@epc.ac.uk) or Vicky Elston (v.elston@epc.ac.uk)
Fixing the foundations: creating a more prosperous nation
HM Treasury has published the report "Fixing the foundations: creating a more prosperous nation" or the Government's "productivity plan". In it, the Government says it will support the "fast spreading"...
"Metrics cannot replace peer review in the next REF..."
The findings of the Independent Review of the Role of Metrics in Research Assessment and Management have been published, concluding that "no set of numbers is likely to be able...
Dowling Review of Business-University Collaboration
Dame Ann Dowling DBE FREng FRS has now published her Review of Business-University Research Collaboration, to which the Engineering Professors' Council was one of very many contributors from across industry...
Re-engineering engineering education
https://youtu.be/KXNT-RRcfyo "Young people are like wet cement. Thinking in a systems way, thinking across disciplines and across political boundaries, is something that will be easier to teach if we start...
BIS acknowledges work of EPC and RAEng in Perkins Review work
Asked by David Simpson (Upper Bann) Asked on: 10 June 2015 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Engineering 1985 To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans...
The Engineers Without Borders Challenge - a view from the judging panel - "I was impressed"
Like many academics, I have often struggled to know quite how to engage students so that they learn something of the essence of engineering, rather than simply turning the handle...
Wakeham Review of STEM degree accreditation and graduate employability
The announcement of the Government’s science and innovation strategy in December included a commission to establish a general review of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and a specific review...
RAEng's industrial secondment success for EPC members
Congratulations to seven EPC members on securing a place in the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Industrial Secondment scheme. The scheme will see them spending up to 12 months working onsite with...
Ingenious resilience: messages for a new Government
Engineering matters to the UK economy, on both a regional and national level, and the profession is vital to maintaining the UK's position in the world. It drives innovation, regional...
The role of the university Technology Transfer Office (TTO), and why TTO-investor discussions can be difficult and take time to conclude.
Added to the Members' Portal... a useful briefing note for those of you involved in spin-outs and negotiations about intellectual property. Authored by a number of sector bodies on knowledge transfer, it...
Come and work with us...
Policy officer (intern) The Engineering Professors’ Council (EPC)[1] is the representative organisation for engineers in UK universities. With 80 institutional members comprising more than 6,000 academic staff, we provide advocacy...
7 research areas marked by EPSRC for growth...
In case you've missed them....the EPSRC has identified 7 areas of engineering research for strategc focus and growth. For more, go to EPSRC research... Electrical motors and drives / electromagnetics...
New "Engenius Film" added...
Dr Emma Carter of the University of Sheffield was one of the two winners of the EPC's 2014 Engaging in Engineering public engagement grant awards. The latest of her series...
IP for engineers...
Intellectual property is now featured in the Engineering Council's Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes (AHEP) “Professional Engineering Competence Guidance”. The Intellectual Property Office have developed a useful toolkit for those...
RAEng Visiting Professors' Scheme - now open - closing date 16 June, 2015
Applications for the Royal Academy of Engineering's Visiting Professors' scheme are currently open. "This industry-into-academia initiative aims to utilise the experience of the Visiting Professors to enhance student learning as well...
Election 2015 - higher education in the parties' manifestos...
In the run up to the general election on 7th May, colleagues at the British Universities Finance Group (BUFDG) have prepared the following summary of what each political party has in...
New report published on the contribution of teaching to academic career advancement
Thanks to all members who contributed to this piece of research (and you did in numbers), published today by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The report, "Does teaching advance your...
University partners collaborate on £138M Research in Infrastructure & Cities (UKCRIC) project
The UK Collaboration for Research in Infrastructure & Cities (UKCRIC) is a £138 million capital investment that will be centred around the Olympic Park in Stratford and will include 13 university...
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...
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...
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...
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...