Engineering Professors’ Council

Admissions Working Group.  Update on EEA activities - July 2008

Future of EEA

A new ETB Board was appointed late in 2007, incorporating greater direct representation from the Professional Bodies. This led to a fundamental strategy review, the outcome of which confirmed the need to focus on school-level education (among other things). However, much to the surprise of many observers, the new Board took the decision not to continue to support the EEA, but to establish a new “high level Education Committee”. Indeed, support for the EEA secretarial role which the ETB had been providing was withdrawn at relatively short notice.

The EEA members subsequently met in May and explored the best way to establish the continuation of the EEA as it is keenly felt that the real experience of schools activities within the EEA membership coupled with the unprecedented level of cooperation in schools activities achieved between the professional bodies by the EEA, demonstrates a level of success which must not be allowed to dissipate.

A possible future scenario is for the EEA to combine with the RAEng Shape the Future team to form a committee which fits within the overarching national STEM committee framework. A meeting to discuss this possibility took place on 27th June and possible arrangements are being worked through. It is anticipated that a solution will be found.

Longitudinal Study

Notwithstanding the above hiatus, work has continued on exploring potential sources of funding for the Longitudinal Study aimed at identifying the key factors that shape patterns for participation, engagement and success in engineering. All authorities and agencies continue to suggest that such a study is needed, the most recent examples being during the IUS&S Committee evidence session on 7th May when the director of WISE emphasised the need for a longitudinal study to measure effectiveness. Representatives of the Learning Grid and STEMNET agreed, pointing out that a ten-year study was required, which could cost at least £1M.

Work continues in conjunction with the Cambridge-MIT (CMI) project to recast the proposal for submission to the ESRC in August/September 2008. Colleagues from the Shape the Future project are also involved as this study will be used to measure the long term effectiveness of this initiative.

The Longitudinal Study Working Group remains optimistic despite the ETB lack of ongoing support and the time being taken to obtain appropriate funding, as the commencement of the New Advanced Diplomas in September 2008 presents yet another argument for the need to start obtaining hard evidence of the effectiveness of careers activities as soon as possible.

FJM   2.7.08.