RAEng supports expansion of EngD funding

(27 August 2014) - The Royal Academy of Engineering has expressed its strong support for further funding for centres offering the Engineering Doctorate (EngD) qualification.

Since their establishment in 1992, engineering doctorate schemes (EngD) have been delivering hundreds of engineering researchers many of whom have become leaders in engineering and technology research and businesses.

EngD schemes are aligned with market and industry research needs, thanks to the strong links to the industrial sector and the rigorous training developed in collaboration with industrial partners.

Dr Rhys Morgan, Director of Engineering and Education at the Royal Academy of Engineering said:

“The Academy’s Standing Committee for Education and Training (SCET) are strongly supportive of engineering doctorate schemes from the experience of the industrialists on the committee and we advocate for further funding focused on engineering doctorate schemes.

The Academy welcomes the type of collaborations between industry and academia at the core of the EngD model as they are the wellspring of innovation. Engineering doctorates also proved time and time again to provide a fast track route to professional engineering leadership roles.”

- Ends -

For further information, contact:

• Paul Wilkinson (PR consultant to AEngD) – tel 020 8858 1104, mob 07788 445920, email paul.wilkinson@pwcom.co.uk

Notes for editors

Association of Engineering Doctorates

The Association of Engineering Doctorates established its steering group in 2010 and now encompasses almost all of the 28 current EPSRC-designated industrial doctorate centres awarding EngD degrees at UK universities, with industry sponsors, existing EngD research engineers and alumni as associate members. A community engaged in research in engineering and related disciplines, it aims to:

• promote acceptance and recognition of Engineering Doctorate (EngD) degrees within host institutions and industry
• promote excellence and maintain the quality of EngD degrees
• develop wider and more strategic industrial research collaboration
• identify and promote the benefits and impacts from EngD research
• recruit sufficient and suitable top quality research projects
• attract and recruit high calibre Research Engineers (REs)
• develop and promote taught programmes tailored to REs and industry needs
• encourage strong academic engagement and feed back into the host institutions' research base

The Engineering Doctorate (EngD) scheme was established by the EPSRC in 1992 (following recommendations of the 1990 Engineering Doctorate Report, produced by a working group chaired by Professor Parnaby).

The first EngD programmes began in 1992, and by 2013 28 schemes were offered by UK universities - either singly or as multi-institution academic partnerships (one further centre awards a DPhil degree).

Research interests embrace all major areas of engineering, manufacturing and related disciplines including:

• Biopharmaceuticals
• Bioprocess engineering
• Construction, the built environment, transport, and sustainability
• Materials science (including metal coatings, micro- and nano-materials, and composites)
• Energy technologies
• Formulation engineering
• Systems engineering
• Information technologies
• Machining science
• Non-destructive evaluation
• Optics and photonics
• Water engineering
• Virtual environments and visualisation

Royal Academy of Engineering

The Royal Academy of Engineering is the UK’s national academy for engineering, bringing together the most successful and talented engineers for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering. It provides analysis and policy support to promote the UK’s role as a great place to do business, takes a lead on engineering education and invests in the UK’s world-class research base to underpin innovation.

For more information please contact:

• Giorgio De Faveri (Royal Academy of Engineering), tel: 020 7766 0655, email: Giorgio De Faveri

See: Academy calls for further funding in support of engineering doctoral training centres