Emerging Trends, Approaches And Challenges In Engineering Education In The UK

Worldwide, engineering educators are searching for approaches, pedagogies and change strategies to develop programmes that will equip their graduates to be successful engineers, effective engineering leaders and catalysts for social development. In the UK, focus largely rests on new pathway initiatives and new Higher Education (HE) institutions. There is little shared understanding of the established sector's evolution from a maths and science heavy curricula to the innovative and world-leading models of engineering education found in the UK HE sector today. This research paper looks at examples of trends that are emerging in engineering education provision in the UK and highlights case-studies of innovative provision and new models in the sector. A mixed-mode approach of desk research, structured survey and case studies were used to collect data. Data analyses show that across the UK there is a complete spectrum of engineering higher education, with the reality of the provision being complex with a broad diversity of educational models on offer. The research reviews current teaching and learning approaches and highlights evidence of innovations in laboratory practical teaching; use of projects; dissertation projects; project-based learning, project-based initiatives and frameworks; and examples of new buildings driving curriculum innovation. In particular, the paper presents and discusses data concerning current teaching and learning approaches (including barriers and impact of the coronavirus on learning approaches and provision of engineering education in the UK), information on innovative elements, and COVID mitigation and engagement with new methods of delivery.