Dr Barry Cleasby

1
Employer Engagement in Engineering Foundation
Degrees

• Dr Barry Cleasby
• Head of Research
• Engineering and Technology Board
• Engineering Subject Centre
• Developments in Engineering
• 27th October 2006

2
What are Engineering Foundation Degrees?

• Intermediate HE Qualification
• Employer involvement
• Accessibility
• Articulation and progression
• Flexibility for institution, learner and employer
• Partnership between employers, HEIs, FE
  Colleges and SSCs

3
Research Background

• Aims and Objectives
• Examination of the nature and reality of employer
  engagement in Engineering FDs
• Provision of best practice examples
• Examination of the barriers to employer
  engagement

• Methodology
• Provider Survey
• Provider/Employer Case Studies
• Employer Consultation
• Key Stakeholder Consultation

4
Index of Engagement

• Quantitative measure of the extent to which
  employers are engaged in the development and
  operation of EFDs
• Five specific components of engagement
• employer/supplier relationship
• design and delivery
• skills and knowledge relevant to employment
• integrating academic work-based learning
• satisfying the need of employers
• Engagement scores

5
Index of Engagement Example Questions
6
Index of Engagement Results (Providers)
7
Index of Engagement Range of ScoresFor
Specific Providers
8
Employer Index Scores
9
Index of Engagement Range of Scores For
Specific Employers
10
Engagement Issues

• What works well?
• Employer driven
• Flexibility
• Partnership approach
• Raising awareness
• Emphasising the benefits

• Difficulties experienced?
• Integrating academic and WBL
• Flexibility
• Engaging SMEs

11
Barriers to Engagement

• Lack of awareness and understanding
• Over-emphasis on the qualification
• Employer resource and capability
• Health and safety issues/insurance
• Developing niche qualifications that can be
  geographically dispersed

12
Employer Illustration

• KLM UK Engineering
• Academic modules being delivered by KLM 14
  staff capable of delivery
• KLM staff undertake guest lecturing at Kingston
• 18 FD graduates now FT employees at KLM
• The Racing Partnership
• Taken FD students from Bridgewater College on
  placement
• Perception that FD students as technically
  proficient as FT mechanics
• Cost saving to the employer of 100/FD
  student/day
• National Grid
• Close collaboration between National Grid, Energy
  Utility Skills and Aston University modules
  driven by the employer
• Scottish and Southern interested in running the FD

13
Next Steps

• Increasing provider response rate
• Further employer consultation
• Dissemination of good practice examples
• Report Publication