Desire of industry, products from academia - ships that pass in the night?

Abstract

In 2001 the LTSN Engineering Centre undertook a needs analysis of its stakeholders. The purpose was to assist the Centre in fine-tuning its strategy and work plan, and to ensure it understood the needs of its clients. The consultation exercise sought information on issues, priority areas and on proposed Centre activities and communication methods. It was also the starting point for establishing a register of expertise within UK engineering education. In order to meet the Centre’s aim of enhancing education, the views of all stakeholders to engineering education are important. The needs analysis polled engineers in academia, industry and the professional bodies, plus students on engineering degree programmes, and professionals within learning and teaching. The paper herein focuses on the issues and priorities identified only by academics and industrialists and the subsequent responses from the Centre to those results.