|
|
 |
|
Undergraduate Programmes
-
Loughborough University's award-winning undergraduate programme in Systems Engineering remains unique in its delivery and content.
The programme was designed to produce young high-calibre
graduate engineers capable of confidently addressing complex multi-disciplinary
problems across a wide range of state-of-the-art technology areas. The success of any course will always be measured ultimately in terms of the difference its graduates make to their future employers and everyone knows that repeat business is the best testimonial. BAE Systems, the original programme sponsors, has now employed over two hundred graduates from the course and reports significant benefits. The new recruits bring a broader background in ‘systems thinking’ which enables them to raise the capability of any team in which they work, contribute to the success of the company and by example begin to change the way in which people around them approach problems. On average, they progress more quickly than their counterparts and are also attracted to roles in new areas such as unmanned vehicles and future concepts where their systems engineering skills can be used to good effect. Many
are employed on new projects that are at an early
stage of their development cycle. The majority of these projects are complex
and multi-disciplinary in nature; exactly the type of problem that Systems students
are trained to deal with, and their inclusion on these projects
is calculated to yield a better product in a shorter time-scale.
Sponsorship today
How does the collaboration work? |
Each company pays an annual membership fee (£2,500) and a pro-rata payment (£800) for each of the undergraduates they choose to sponsor individually. The extra financial injection is used by the university to enrich and extend the students’ learning experience beyond what is normally expected, even at MEng level. In return, companies participate in the development of the course content to ensure its continued contemporary relevance and alignment with their projected future needs. Crucially, their involvement also helps to raise awareness of the discipline of systems engineering amongst students, parents, teachers and careers advisors. |
Sponsorship helps secure key skills for the company workforce |
| Though the university retains overall control of the curriculum and remains responsible for the integrity and standard of academic content, this is partnership in practice, not just theory, which provides a tailored education and an enhanced learning experience for all students on the programme so that they are equipped to hit the ground running when they join their sponsoring companies. |
- As John Hooper, the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering’s Director of Education Partnerships, observes, “If we don’t have enough systems engineering talent in the UK, we will not be able to compete on large-scale, technical, global projects so I am delighted with the confidence which our partner companies have placed in this distinctive undergraduate programme and wholeheartedly welcome the additional strength their combined support will add to the learning experiences of our students. There really is nothing
quite like this degree in any other UK university. The Royal Academy of Engineering recently called for universities to meet the challenge of teaching systems engineering and I feel Loughborough is setting a trend that other engineering faculties will follow.”
|
The University is pleased to be part of the Royal Academy of Engineering's Visiting Professor scheme for Integrated System Design.
This programme fosters industry–academia links and aims to help universities to teach engineering design to undergraduates in a way that relates to real professional practice. Professor Paul Davies from Thales joined the university in 2007.
For those who would like to know more about the Academy's view of systems engineering it has published a booklet which lays down 6 simple principles covering the design of any integrated system. It is intended as a guide for educators, students and practising engineers, and sets out to demystify the design of complex projects.
'Creating Systems That Work' can be downloaded from the Academy's website |
|
|
|
|
|
If your company is interested in joining the collaboration, or you are a student wanting to know more about individual sponsorships, contact
John Hooper or Amanda Pearce,
For
details of the programme visit the Loughborough University website at,
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/systems
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
