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Session 2213

New Approaches to Teaching and Learning for Industry-Based Engineering Professionals

C D Grant, B R Dickson Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland,UK.

ABSTRACT

It is no longer possible for the profession and academia to assume that all chemical engineers can be educated, trained and developed in the way that prevailed in the latter part of the 20th century i.e. by means of conventional under-graduate degree courses targeted at school leavers. In the UK, the Chemical Processing Industry has a key challenge to meet the need for employment- based education. It also has a demand for continuing professional development to provide core and advanced engineering knowledge and skills that also encourages a multi-disciplinary approach.

Strathclyde University’s Department of Chemical and Process Engineering has pioneered several undergraduate and postgraduate distance learning courses for industry-based students that are unique in the UK and are attracting interest on a world-wide basis. The design and development of the courses was undertaken with a wide range of partners including industry, Professional Institutions and other Universities. The course delivery involves new methods of teaching, learning and communications that are not found in conventional U.K full-time under-graduate programmes. These teaching methods range from text-based to internet-based delivery and have a strong emphasis on employment-based project work.

The undergraduate course provides a ‘mainstream’ first degree in chemical engineering for industry-based students who have some prior qualifications and experience. The postgraduate masters-level courses are designed for a wider range of professionals with backgrounds in engineering and/or chemistry. They provide a technology-based version of an MBA and feature a strong multi-disciplinary theme that integrates advanced process technologies, management and business (with a strong emphasis on the process of innovation) and IT strategy. Since the distance learning courses started in 1990, a total of around 60 companies (on an UK and world- wide basis) have sponsored students and the current total enrolment is around 150 students. Both programmes have a student age profile of 26-36 years and feature a wide-cross section of disciplines holding qualifications ranging from Diploma to PhD at entry.

The paper covers: • The key features of course and curriculum development and the role of partnerships • The most effective methods of teaching, learning and communication

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Grant, C., & Dickson, B. (2002, June), Teaching & Learning For Work Based Engineers Paper presented at 2002 Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada. 10.18260/1-2--11187