Interim Progress Report for HE STEM Project: 1st Jan -31st May 2012
“GEARING-UP FOR INDUSTRIAL GROWTH”
Prof Richard Hall dated 31st May 2012
Progress to Date:1) The University is excited by the prospect of developing the new B.Eng Manufacturing
Engineering 2 year degree for industry. The project has received the support of the Vice
Chancellor and the PVC(Academic) and they hope that this will also stimulate institutional
change.
2) Committees have been successfully assembled and meet regularly to discuss, review
progress and deploy.
Operations Team: Amrit Chodda, Richard Hall, Paul Lister, Paul Hampton, Peter Mills, Steve Garner,
Alison Felce(ILE), Kathy Shaw (QASD), (Business School), TBC (RAF Cosford), Rahman
Sarpal(Marketing)
External Steering Committee: Michael Grove (HE-STEM), Nazira (Bradford Uni), Richard
Thomas(SMU), Sir Geoff Hampton(Exec), Prof Richard Hall(STech)
Academic Delivery Team: Amrit Chodda, Richard Hall, Paul Lister, Kevin Garner, Mark Stanford, Paul
Hampton, Steve Garner, Peter Mills, Alison Felce, TBC (Business School), Nigel Birch(Business
Solutions)
Industrial Team: Goodrich (Grant Weston), Caterpillar(Dave Archer), HS Marston ( Adam Amadeo /
Mike Frost), Meggit(Carl Burton), UNIPART(Tim Fane), Lemforder(Tim Rees ), Timken(Martyn Jones ),
Moog(Andy Harris), BIS(Greg Dickinson), RAF COSFORD, Jaguar Land Rover (Jan Volkers) + SME
supplier chain companies.
3) Sector skills council SEMTA are now partnering too. They have £5M funding for x3
programmes reviewing skills needs of HVM sector. Their data will feed into our
developments. Signed and agreement with EEF Ltd to work on higher apprenticeship which
may form the 2 year degree too.
4) Additionality: April-May: Mike Simpson seconded to us from the university and is mapping
Aerospace and Automotive supplier chains. Bridget Day is seconded to us for 3 months from
the Midlands Aerospace Alliance, working on company visits and gaining industry view point
and defining industry needs.
5) UTC: Working collaboratively with the Black Country University Technology College:
Henrietta Harnisch, liaising with the Principle of Black Country UTC, Chris Hilton. Chris has
agreed to support the development and delivery of the Bridging Programme and seamless
connection and progression, from UTC. Also NE Wolverhampton Academy curriculum for
HVM, between Pendeford and Northicote Schools (sponsored by Boeing &RAS) will also
form a local School feeder route.
6) Translational: Meetings with Richard Thomas from SMU, on accelerated programmes, have
gone well. We are now detailing the curriculum development using their best practice.
7) Prof Hall visited Caterpillar on 2nd Feb to view Work Place Demonstrators and Apprenticeship
cascade model, and Dave Archer is working closely with us on the curriculum. They like the
framework developed. Also visited USA, Vice President of Rolls Royce, who was most
impressed with our ideas and project. He now wants to be kept informed of our
developments, and believes this programme is just what is needed to address international
skills issues. The Director of Caparo Group wants to send staff immediately. MD of Moog
India wants to send current staff onto the programme. Lots of endorsements and interest
from other companies have been received (please see part spread sheet of Appendix 3 as
example of logged information).
8) Industry Consultation Event: a major consultation with industry was held on the 23rd Feb
2012, 3 workshops were facilitated and from this the proposed framework for the degree
was finalised in March. (see Appendix 2 for degree framework, and photograph Appendix 5)
9)
The Academic Proposal Plan (30 page document) was produced April-May and was
submitted on-time for approval. Awaiting outcome and advise, prior to the validation
exercise.
10) In May: a Growth Innovation Fund Skills Development project outline entitled “National
Skills Factory” linked to this project was submitted and approved. Initial funding of £75K was
allocated through UKCES for a full bid to be prepared for approval in August 2012. (The full
bid will be a £2.5m project and will partially fund fees for the next pilot)
11) We are currently developing the module templates and content of the modules, along the
lines of special delivery modes with flexibility. Plus developing bespoke modules, prior to
validation.
12) An abstract on our project has been accepted for the HESTEM conference in September
2012.
Milestones achieved against work plan:Date
Complete
Key Activities or deliverables
Jan 2012
Advisory Group and Project Group
established. Staff seconded internally.
Responsible
Progress
Statement
RH
Complete
evidenced by
minutes of
regular review
meeting
Jan 2012
Begin UCT curriculum development
RH
Complete Review
meetings held
Jan 2012
Review existing curriculum and identify
content of co-delivery
RH
Framework
complete
RH
See attached
and Included in
University
Academic
Development
Proposal Plan complete
RH
On-going by
staff subject
leaders
Feb 2012
Establish delivery framework,
progression pathways.
June 2012
Curriculum Design and Development:
Academic content for UTC and new HE
programme
July 2012
Development of learning and teaching
material and resources
RH
July 2012
Final project evaluation
ALL
July 2012
Final Report
RH
Follows the
above
Conclusions
We have satisfied the work plan to date, and are on target to deliver the remaining parts of the
programme development. This is the most crucial stage and the most work intensive, where the
details of the curriculum will be designed, modules will be specified, and learning and teaching
materials derived.
Appendix 1
Example of minutes of meetings
HE STEM Operational Committee – Gearing Up for Industrial Growth
Notes of the meeting held on Monday, 20th February 2012 at 2.00pm in room MI307
In Attendance:
Richard Hall, Nigel Birch, Steve Garner, Kevin Garner, David Roberts, Cathy Shaw, Paul Hampton
Apologies:
Paul Lister, Alison Felce, Sir Geoff Hampton
Progress to date
-
Potential for a new degree programme targeting component suppliers
-
Create something that meets industry needs – flexible and brings in minimum graduate training delivered in a
minimum possible timeframe.
-
How we do it? Student based industry; clustering individuals – WBL
-
£236,000 award is being made and important for our staff to get involved.
-
As well as this internal Operations meeting, an external Steering group Committee has been developed with
Michael Grove, Director of National HE STEM Programme and Sir G Hampton on board.
-
The Academic delivery team will consist of P Lister, M Stanford, P Hampton, S Garner, A Felce,
P Mills, colleagues from the Business School, Nigel Birch, R Newman and FRH.
-
Our industrial team partners include Goodrich, Caterpillar, HS Marstons, Timken (Aerospace), Lemforder (ZF), Moog
and number of SME suppliers. 40 suppliers in the automotive industry have been approached and it is now
necessary to sign them up.
-
A further application has been made for funding to offset the fees with a bid submitted to LPE of £2.4m.
-
Linkages with Black Country Technology Centre with potential feeder routes to up skill those already in industry.
-
Visited Caterpillar – viewed their Workplace Simulator and Learning Centre at Desford.
Programme Outline
-
Proposed BSc/BEng (Hons) Manufacturing Engineering targeting the Aerospace industry/ Automotive Component
Suppliers – Year 1 to include an 8 week intensive bridging course at level 4. Focussing on prerequisites, there may
be elements that could be met by industry such as short courses on Data Management Systems – CISCO.
-
Year 2 proposes 2 days a week at University and 3 days in industry – 45 weeks 160 credits at level 4/5. All modules
will be core and delivered in 5 credit units – may look attractive to school leavers.
-
Standard Apprenticeships of £22,000 will also feed into this. Agreement with EEF Ltd (previously Engineering
Employers Federation) on Apprenticeship Schemes.
-
Deadlines: 4 months to establish the programme, carry out the marketing and create the learning materials. 6
months to develop the course and deliver the programme.
-
CS – We have been led to believe that the University will not be opting for two year degree programmes, although
if a different product and delivered for and in industry there may be exceptions. A wider discussion to be had on
the market in terms of the offering.
-
Year 3 will focus on Major Project throughout the year – discussion with A Felce to make WBL.
-
In terms of student numbers, hoping for 100 in the first year, 250 in the second year and progressively increasing
into the thousands.
-
CS – Will industry be paying full costs?
-
RH – The University has applied for an additional bid of £2.4m. It is hoped that half of the standard University fees
per year will be paid by industry and half supported by the grant. When grant diminishes, the majority will be
funded by the company with one third by the student.
-
There will be flexibility in the model - we have good companies on our doorsteps and can already see tangible
benefits.
-
KG – Sustainable Design and Manufacture still exists in the prospectus; 4 modules can be mapped against the
award including ‘Quality and Standards’ and ‘Product Realisation’. There is probably a one third overlap.
-
KG – ‘Engineering and Manufacturing Principles’ is mainly D Mynors’ team although felt less confident about
Quality Techniques. RH noted the team’s reliance on NB to carry out a gap analysis and help fill those gaps.
-
CB – Suggested offering a SAP accredited Enterprise Resource module - branded SAP (competitor to Oracle).
-
RH discussed using a shell module for ‘Major Project’ - KG mentioned one with D Mynors on a mini journal
publication.
-
‘Advanced Manufacturing’ is likely to be M Stanford and ‘Control System’ R Newman or D Dyke. ‘Project
Management’ is offered by the Business School.
-
CS – It is important to establish funding, and suggested we speak to our Dean about numbers.
-
RH - Feeder routes will be developed so that curriculum developments with UTC, in particular HNCs can be used to
gain credits off these courses and enable direct entry onto level 4/5.
-
Entry onto the programme can be gained by an employee of a company or School/College leaver. This way we can
increase numbers of highly skilled people and cascade them down the supplier chain.
Consultation
-
Need detail on how we take forward as an award and to present to companies on Thursday, 23rd February 2012. It
has been suggested by R Moreton that the best way to manage this is to modify an existing award i.e. BSc/BEng
Sustainable Design. The School recognises that ‘Sustainability’ has not recruited highly in the past and could be
better marketed.
-
RH - Funding/Resources – will be paid in stages. University match funding of £120,000 cash.
C Dyos will look at staff time at meetings to go against funding. Funding is available for staff to get involved and to
develop technology supported learning material.
-
The format of the Aerospace/Automotive Dinner was discussed. Arrival at 4.00pm with an update on HE STEM and
a summary of GUFIG. Attendees will be split into groups led by PH, KG, AEF and CB. Questions in the form of bullet
points will be presented to the main group. Members agreed to ask companies if they would be prepared to send
students. In addition, a Pledge Card was thought to be useful. Action: PH to organise Pledge Cards.
-
PH – The team should have a clear indication by Thursday as to whether they start developing this further. Can we
ask companies how many employees are eligible to do this? Facilitator questions to include commitment for one
off CPD activities if not committed to a whole course. Agreed to allow 5 – 10 minutes for each question followed by
time for discussions.
-
CB – Discussed the use of a matrix for pick and mix offerings as a bridging opportunity to get companies to a certain
level.
-
CS – If decide to opt for a new award with new award titles, approval will be needed via academic planning; this
will include the costings of delivery. CS recommended a totally new development; if money is available it will be
less of an issue during the approval stages. We can still bring in KG’s modules with a step over into the Business
School.
-
Agreed that ‘Manufacturing’ should certainly be in the title of the award as a multi-disciplinary subject.
-
CS – Emphasised that the title of the award should relate to the content of the course.
AOB
National HE STEM Programme
Appendix 2
Academic Framework
B.Sc(Hons) / B.Eng(Hons) Manufacturing Engineering (Components Suppliers Programme)
Year 1 Bridging Intensive (8 week intensive) (40 credits) Level 4
Maths & Statistics (links with
six sigma)
Introduction to Manufacturing
Processes & Materials
Personal Attributes &
Employability (communication,
team working, written skills,
presentation)
Introduction to Design
Specification & Realisation
CAD
Introduction to Engineering
Systems (Sensors & Control,
PLCs)
Introduction to Data
Management (Computer Info
Systems), SAP,
Year 2 (2 days a week at university, 3 days in Industry) 45 weeks 160 credits at level 4/5
Industrial project 1
(Report
&presentation)
Quality & Standards 1
(Lean Techniques)
Industrial project 2
(Report
&presentation)
Manufacturing
Processes &
Production
Techniques
Engineering Design &
Product Realisation
Production Systems &
Control
Engineering &
Manufacturing
Principles 1 (Applied
Statics, Dynamics,
Thermo, Fluids)
Computer Systems &
Data Management
(SAP)
Year 3 (2 days a week at university, 3 days in Industry) 45 weeks 160 credits at Level 5/6
Major project
(Interim report &
presentation)
Quality & Standards 2
(Six Sigma,
SC21/SC2015, AS,
BSEn)
Major Project
(Industrial Report &
Presentation)
Engineering &
Manufacturing
Principles 2 (Applied
Statics, Dynamics,
Thermo, Fluids)
Advanced
Manufacturing
Bespoke Specialist
Company Module (Codelivered OEM Linked)
Businesses &
Management
(Project, Finances,
Leadership)
Bespoke Specialist
Company Module (Co
delivered OEM linked)
Appendix 3
Company Visits Summary Example Reports
Tel
call/mtg
Pledge
Who-current employees, new
recruits
How funded
Days a
workplace
include s
1. Marston - following
up the pledge card
26th
April
Yes
definitely
but
wouldn't
commit to
number my guess is
2-3 pa
Two possible routes apprentices who have asked
for further training and more
mature shop floor employees
who have expressed an
interest PLUS interested in
recruiting apprentices from
UTC
Through
company
training budget.
The sense I got
was that £6k pa
is too much,
£3.5 is OK.
Intereste
plus a we
6 wee
possib
employe
their o
2. Goodrich - following
up the pledge card
tel call
25May
visit
19Jun
Didn't seem put
off by cost
May pref
and wee
ro
Company - contact name
and phone number
3. Moog
23rd
May
Very
interested -
Has someone doing first yr of
HNC and may like to use this
as continutation. Would
consider as a 'higher
apprenticeship'. Discussing
with Indian facility who may
like to send engineers to
England for 2yr training for
this. Will discuss with Connie
Buynacek(East Aurora US)
who leads the team of
Manufacturing Engineers in
Wolves and Philippines. Also
may be of interest to New
Product Introduction team.
May offer it to Design
Engineers who have come up
a non-degree route.
4. Unipart - following up
the pledge card
5. Caparo - following up
the email to Richard
30th
April
encouraged
to try it out
with a
group of
existing
employees
this year
3rd May
Wants to
take about
3 in 2013
from UTC
system. For
2012
unlikely
but given
National
Eng
Director
contact for
Meggitt
Mandy Rammell has been
given the project of getting
an apprenticeship scheme up
and running, to include the
Manufacturing degree. She
will also talk to divisional
MDs to check whether they
have existing employees
ready to start in Sep.
Company
willing to fund
this activity but
no idea what
budget they
expect. I
outlined the
costs.
Outli
alternat
out or F
weeken
complica
of sh
Carl would like to take
regular new recruits from this
route, UTC then UoW
Not concerned
about the cost if
the product is
right
Outli
alternat
out or F
wee
6. Timken
7. Meggitt Equipment,
Coventry - following up a
conversation I had
8. Ajax Tocco - offered
facilities for Materials
module
9. TRW with Mike S- on
Mike's summary
10. Tallent Automotive
Limited
Wolverhampton Road
Cannock WS11 1LY
1st May
knew of 6
who had
been
identified
as having
future
potential
Taking 2 apprentices per
year, has a formal appraisal
process, plants in Peterlee
and Pontypool as well. Like
to be at the forefront of new
ideas. Understand the
concern about where the
future engineers will come
from
have to get US
owner buy in
but don't see
this as a
problem. If the
product is right
then they will
pay. Would
apply for
Engineering
grant
Outli
alternat
out or F
wee
Appendix 5
Photograph of Delegates at the Industry Consultation Dinner of
23rd Feb 2012