Formation of an engineering identity: industrial role models & problem based learning

Michael Murray, Robert Michael McQuade, Gillian Hendry

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

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Abstract

In vocational disciplines such as engineering, industrialists can provide students with access to real-life projects and artefacts that expose them to practice knowledge and employability skills. Assistance from Alumni role models can help students to imagine and reflect on their future self as graduate engineers. In this paper, two initiatives that aid the students’ transition from ‘novice to becoming’ civil engineering graduates are examined. (1) Graduate mentoring of student mentees during their third-year of studies and (2) a hybrid problem/ project-based series of workshops know as Civil Engineering 4 Real (CE4R). Both initiatives fostered a collaborative academic-industry partnership whereby undergraduates were introduced to an engineering practitioner community of practice. Both initiatives have exposed students to the breadth of civil engineering practice and sub-disciplines within the profession. Whilst the feedback from the students is overwhelmingly positive, there is a need to ensure both initiatives are considered with respect to the wider course curriculum.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages8
Publication statusPublished - 17 Jul 2018
Event7th International Symposium of Engineering Education (ISEE 2018) - UCL, London, United Kingdom
Duration: 17 Jul 201818 Jul 2018

Conference

Conference7th International Symposium of Engineering Education (ISEE 2018)
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityLondon
Period17/07/1818/07/18

Keywords

  • industry
  • engineering identity
  • community of practice

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