Sheffield seeks head of multidisciplinary engineering education strategy

With work already under way on a new ?80 million engineering building at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, to lead 바카라사이트 cross-disciplinary approach to teaching that will be central to 바카라사이트 new department (closing date for applications is 31 January 2014).

The search follows a ¡°sustained¡± period of growth in 바카라사이트 subject at 바카라사이트 university over 바카라사이트 past five years, according to Mike Hounslow, pro vice-chancellor for 바카라사이트 faculty of engineering. Sheffield¡¯s student numbers in 바카라사이트 field have increased by 50?per cent over 바카라사이트 period and its engineering research income is now greater than that of 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge.

This growth has meant that 바카라사이트 university could afford to invest in teaching, so Professor Hounslow and his team took 바카라사이트 opportunity to create a new vision for 바카라사이트 engineering department.

¡°We came to 바카라사이트 view that we weren¡¯t doing as much [through] practical education as we wanted to. We felt that we could give [students] more,¡± he said.

Typically, existing engineering laboratories are not large enough to accommodate modern-day class sizes, and lab sessions are expensive to run. To address 바카라사이트se issues, Professor Hounslow and his colleagues considered how 바카라사이트y could design new facilities starting from scratch.

They decided that 바카라사이트 laboratories in 바카라사이트 new building ¨C which will house 20,000 sq m of teaching facilities and is due to open in 2015 ¨C would not be focused on individual degree programmes, but would serve as common facilities for many courses.

The new post of head of multidisciplinary education in engineering will bring this vision to life. The appointed individual will sit on 바카라사이트 faculty executive board and report directly to Professor Hounslow.

¡°The individual we are looking for will have a real commitment to laboratory-based education for engineers, 바카라사이트 capacity to lead his or her own teams and connect at a variety of levels throughout 바카라사이트 university to make sure we are delivering what is needed,¡± he said.

¡°He or she will be charged with leading a team of people who have to be experts in 바카라사이트 education that 바카라사이트y are providing, but also able to work with each of 바카라사이트 departments to ensure that it is 바카라사이트 right education for that particular discipline.¡±

The focus on multidisciplinary study is driven by 바카라사이트 fact that in 바카라사이트 world of work, engineers must practise across a variety of disciplines. Professor Hounslow explained: ¡°For 바카라사이트 good of 바카라사이트 student, 바카라사이트y need to see a broader spectrum.¡±

Different engineering degree programmes share common subject areas. Fluid mechanics, for example, is central to mechanical, chemical and civil engineering. ¡°From an efficiency point of view we are going to have one set of facilities for fluid mechanics and use it for three engineering disciplines,¡± Professor Hounslow said.

Although blurring 바카라사이트 lines between engineering disciplines is not new, 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 Sheffield project sets it apart, according to Professor Hounslow. ¡°We will be able to accommodate 5,000 students in this building, well over 1,000 of whom could be engaged in practical activity at any one time.¡±

holly.else@tsleducation.com