Case Study: Meeting the Demand for Skilled Precision Engineers

Autor/inn/en	Sansom, Chris; Shore, Paul
Titel	Case Study: Meeting the Demand for Skilled Precision Engineers
Quelle	In: Education & Training, 50 (2008) 6, S.516-529 (14 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0040-0912
DOI	10.1108/00400910810901836
Schlagwörter	Manufacturing Industry; Engineering; Case Studies; Mechanical Skills; Graduate Students; Graduate Study; Demand Occupations; Training Methods; School Business Relationship; Cooperative Education; Partnerships in Education; Vocational Training Centers; Course Descriptions; Instructional Development; United Kingdom + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Fertigungswirtschaft; Produzierendes Gewerbe; Maschinenbau; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Graduate Study; Student; Students; Aufbaustudium; Graduiertenstudium; Hauptstudium; Studentin; Lehrerreserve; Didaktik; Trainingsmaßnahme; Kooperativer Unterricht; Hochschulpartnerschaft; Vocational training center; Vocational training centre; Vocational training centres; Ausbildungseinrichtung; Berufsaufbauschule; Kursstrukturplan; Teaching improvement; Unterrichtsentwicklung; Großbritannien
Abstract	Purpose: This paper aims to demonstrate how science and engineering graduates can be recruited and trained to Masters level in precision engineering as an aid to reducing the skills shortage of mechanical engineers in UK industry. Design/methodology/approach: The paper describes a partnership between three UK academic institutions and industry, creating an Integrated Knowledge Centre (IKC) in Ultra Precision Structured Surfaces. Within this project sits a Knowledge Transfer activity that seeks to channel graduate scientists and engineers through an MSc in "Ultra Precision Technologies" into the UK engineering industry. The creation and implementation of this pipeline, its systems and its processes, is the subject of this paper and its case study. Findings: In order to retain competitive advantage, the UK precision engineering industry requires a regular supply of technically proficient and organizationally prepared graduates. This paper has explained the approach taken at Cranfield University to increase the size of the pool of postgraduate precision engineers. The approach involves the design of a multi-level system, which draws on increased connectivity between the University, UK engineering companies, and the student. Academic institutions need to exhibit the appropriate flexibility to meet the demands of industry and the aspirations of the student. Research limitations/implications: The paper describes only the early stages of implementation, and further work is necessary. Practical implications: The systems model and case studies provide a framework and detail that is of immediate benefit to manufacturing industries and higher education establishments. Originality/value: The originality of the approach lies in the level of integration between the sub-systems that comprise the Open system, within which students and skills are forged together in a programme to produce employable engineering postgraduates. (Contains 1 table and 5 figures.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10