Retaining engineering undergraduates in engineering lessons learnt through the LEP Professor Matthew

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Retaining engineering undergraduates in
engineering lessons learnt through the
LEPProfessor Matthew HarrisonDirector of
Education Programmes, The Royal Academy of
Engineering
matthew.harrison_at_raeng.org.uk
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What success looks like

• New engineers leaving university with
• A delight in engineering
• An authentic engineering education
• Routes into employment
• Routes into further study

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The London Engineering Project
A determined effort to widen participation in
engineering higher education amongst
under-represented groups. It has outreach and HE
curriculum strands. It is close to being
self-sustaining through employer engagement
(schools and HE), school buy-in and the 14-19
Diploma in engineering (in schools, FE and HE).
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The Southwark Lambeth 14-19 Partnership

• Seven schools.
• Two FE Colleges
• London South Bank University
• The Royal Academy of Engineering
• TEP (Gatsby Foundation)
• Transport for London
• Tubelines

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Transition issues that affect all engineering
students

• Engineering science up front - deferred
  gratification
• Sudden need for independent learning
• Catching up with maths
• Much higher jeopardy assessment
• Time management / keeping up
• Lack of formative assessment feedback

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Transition issues that affect all engineering
students

• LEP response
• Problem based learning
• Changes to maths pedagogy
• Managed teams in team projects
• Web labs for time management
• Visiting lecturers

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Transition issues that affect all engineering
students from under-represented groups

• All the above
• Women - a sense of welcome
• First in family - lack of support network
• FE graduates accustomed to modular delivery of
  vocational qualifications

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Transition issues that affect all engineering
students from under-represented groups

• LEP response
• Gender training
• Ementoring
• Ambassadors
• 14-19 Diploma in Engineering

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Transition issues that affect adult learners
Rusty maths Lower confidence Lack of group
dynamic amongst part time cohorts Long days for
part-time students Industrial realism may be
missing
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Transition issues that affect adult learners

• LEP response
• Fdeng in engineering infrastructure

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The future? Right now a few challenges

• Fines for over recruitment this year an anti
  WP practice?
• Increases in maths A Level
• 14-19 diploma in engineering
• More fees
• End of Aimhigher?
• End of LLLNs?
• Chaos in FE
• Deregulation battle for election
• Too much expectation on employer engagement
• Unit of resource
• FEC on outreach