Project title: Don’t forget the Mortar! A new approach to engineering education
Funding awarded: £65,000
Summary:
This project considers the experiences and activities that form the culture of an institution outside of the core academic content. It acknowledges that this culture is often designed (explicitly or implicitly) by and for majority groups, which can leave people from minority groups less able to navigate the culture and feeling excluded. This results in low levels of belonging which is a significant factor in attainment and retention.
What need does the project address?
Experiences and outcomes of all engineering students are influenced by structures and culture within which they study, live and develop. Students who come from groups that are under-represented in the engineering cohorts achieve poorer outcomes than their peers in part because the culture of the cohort or department is not oriented towards them and does not sufficiently understand or accommodate their needs. This means that in addition to the technical and academic challenges of study, these students face cultural barriers not experienced by their majority group peers. This project focus on that cultural ‘mortar’ that binds the students’ core academic and practical activities together in an holistic experience.
What will the students experience?
The project consists of a range of activities designed to improve the experience of students from minority groups:
- EDI student committees: created across all Engineering schools
- Workshops: careers, alumni, let’s talk
- Hackathon and Designathon: multi-disciplinary opportunities
- Engineering clubs: tours, demos, practical activities
- Study café: facilitated by staff, peer mentors
- Social and team building activities
- Sustainability focused events
- Student entries in external competitions
- Industry network events
What are the expected outcomes?
The key outcome for students is that they are supported to achieve stronger outcomes, the key outcome for the institution is that inclusive education and engagement is promoted and embedded across Engineering.
Indicators include reducing attainment gaps, increasing uptake of placements, improved retention, increasing student voice, increasing visibility of positive role models, establishing and reviewing the approach to inclusive programme design.