“Embedding soft skills and business awareness – Mechanical Engineering at UU”

2. “Embedding soft skills and business awareness – Mechanical Engineering at UU” Dr Margaret Morgan

4. Overview • BEng Hons Mechanical Engineering programme • Embedding business skills within the curriculum • Industry collaboration and support

5. BEng Hons Mechanical Engineering • CEng accreditation by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers • 85% employment record • Compulsory industrial Placement • Strong university/industry partnership

6. What industry wants? • Technical excellence • Problem-solving skills • Innovation and creativity • Commercial awareness • Excellent communicators

7. Matching programme delivery to industry needs • Communication / team-working skills • Practical management skills e.g. self-discipline, independent study-skills, time management, etc. • Visits to manufacturing organisations • Placement in industry • Formal industrial management module

8. Industry visits

9. Real-life design brief given • Students and company engineers • Industry prizes for winning designs Industrially relevant projects

10. Practical Application

11. Practical Application

12. Considerations • Huge logistical task coordinating industrial visits and timetables • Need commitment from the companies – use past graduates as facilitators • Financial incentive required for companies to be involved? • Grant aid scheme to encourage companies to employ Placement students?

13. Practical issues • Need continuity on industrially sponsored prizes • Lack of commitment/maturity from the students • Need buy-in from lecturing staff

14. Financial implications • Cost of bus hire – relatively small • Hospitality for industrial visitors – insignificant • Travel costs for industrial Placement visits

15. Thank you