As engineering departments revolutionise their approaches to learning, visiting professors can play a significant role

Experienced industrial engineers and entrepreneurs can help to ensure engineering curriculums reflect the demands of modern industry, writes Visiting Professor in Electrical Engineering, Faye Banks

The Royal Academy of Engineering’s Visiting Professor’s scheme does much more than strengthen universities’ external partnerships with industry. The initiative also aims to improve teaching and learning and student employability. I hold the position at the Open University of Visiting Professor (VP) in Electrical Engineering at the Royal Academy of Engineering. With nearly thirty years of industrial expertise, I hope to inspire the future generation of engineers, which is why I am really enjoying this experience. As a VP my skills,  knowledge and industrial experience is put to use through the scheme to improve student educational experiences and increase the employability and skill set of UK engineering graduates.

In my capacity as VP my contribution to improving education and teaching in engineering degree programs is significant. As a seasoned professional with a background in industry, I am able to provide a variety of insights, offering my views into industry trends, real-world issues, and practical applications, which I contribute to the curriculum's design. I have also worked with universities to ensure that engineering curriculums reflect the demands of the modern industry.

I collaborate directly with undergraduate engineering students through workshops, seminars, and lectures. I have become a mentor for a number of students, providing advice on practical skills, professional growth, and career routes. The transfer of students from academia into the engineering workforce is facilitated by this individualised support.

In the classroom, my practical expertise enriches discussions and offers insightful context on theoretical concepts. I support cutting-edge teaching strategies including problem-based learning, collaborative cooperation, and flipped classrooms. I create experience-led teaching strategies for engineering degree programs, such as problem-based or project-based active learning. Engineering education entails creativity, design, and invention in addition to knowledge acquisition – and as a Visiting Professor I can help make this holistic approach a reality. The observations I bring help academic institutions stay alert to the changing engineering scene, and further fortify external partnerships by building a bridge between academia and industry.

Globally, engineering departments at universities are revolutionising their approaches to teaching and learning, and as a VP I am eager to support this creative thinking. One example is "blended learning," in which traditional in-person lectures on campus are combined with online or other resources. The "flipped classroom" approach is an additional choice. It modifies the conventional lecture format, which calls for taking notes and completing homework outside of class. Instead, the classroom is transformed into a problem-solving environment, complete with mentors or tutors, and students complete their coursework online, in the university library.

Creating a sustainable society

I have supported the integration of sustainable development goals (SDGs) into engineering curricula as part of my VP role. Incorporating SDGs into engineering degree programmes is essential for preparing future engineers to address global challenges. I achieved this through evaluating the existing curriculum to identify opportunities for integration and identify where SDG-related topics would fit naturally within courses. When teaching environmental engineering, for example, I ensured discussion of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and the way it relates to the processes involved in water treatment.

 

Engineering education entails creativity, design, and invention in addition to knowledge acquisition – and as a Visiting Professor I can help make this holistic approach a reality.

Reflections on being a Visiting Professor

It's also been possible through the VP role to step back and spot opportunities to promote departmental cooperation across disciplines to handle complex challenges. Examples where I’ve done this include bringing sustainable infrastructure (SDG 9) into the civil engineering curriculum, or encouraging the investigation of renewable energy sources in electrical engineering (SDG 7). Drawing on real-world case studies pertaining to the SDGs to demonstrate the issues and technical principles has been about far more than imparting knowledge. It’s been a vital part of empowering future engineers to create sustainable solutions that benefit society and the planet – as has incorporating inclusion and diversity into the planning and execution of engineering education.  

It was clear at the start of my VP journey that a number of UK employers frequently notice that graduates lack certain skills, knowledge and capabilities, which I have also improved (such as practical experience, leadership and management skills, business acumen and communications skills). As Visiting Professors, we can encourage the creation of a curriculum that emphasises creativity, design, and innovation in order to provide a greater number of graduates with a broad knowledge foundation in fields like psychology, sociology, ethics, marketing, and aesthetics. Not only will these broadened foundations benefit engineering undergraduates, but they are also relevant to the industry and so will further improve their employability.

Applications now open for the Visiting Professors scheme

The Visiting Professors Scheme, which has been running for 35 years, is open for applications until 29 April. I’d strongly encourage industrialists, entrepreneurs, consultants or innovators to consider applying and using their applied skills to enhance teaching and learning on engineering degree courses. The scheme provides support for VPs to attend at host universities for at least 12 days a year over three years. We can play a valuable role in improving skills and demonstrating that engineering education is not simply about the accumulation of knowledge, as experiencing the processes of engineering through the stages of creativity, design and innovation is vital.