Faculty of Engineering
Annual Programme Reviews 2005-06
Summary Notes
of reviews conducted in 2006
John
Dickens, Associate Dean (Teaching) of Engineering
In
accordance with university quality procedures for annual review a formal
meeting was held with the following departments.
Civil &
Building Engineering 20
January 2006
Chemical
Engineering 23
January 2006
Mechanical
and Manufacturing Engineering 27
January 2006
Electrical
& Electronic Engineering 14
March 2006
Aeronautical
and Automotive Engineering had a Periodic Programme Review on 12 May 2006. The outcome will be reported at a later date.
The
detailed quantitative and qualitative data produced for each programme is held
in the department for use in future reviews and external audits. This data was reviewed at the meetings. The review is based on 2004-05 data but
discussions were also influenced by what is happening during the current
academic year. The issues raised at the
previous years meeting were reviewed. The
overall documentation for the four departments showed many positive
attributes. The summary below covers the
issues raised at the APR meetings.
Civil
& Building Engineering
1. Civil
Engineering (BEng/MEng).
·
Home
undergraduate applications have risen for both programmes, 80% and 56% for the
BEng and MEng respectively over a two year period. Intake numbers have remained steady for 2005,
following an increase the previous year, and quality has improved. The department has increased the entry offer
for 2006.
·
Progression
rates from part B continue to be monitored.
The overall progression was low on the BEng and a high number of resits
were needed on the MEng. The MEng has high progression requirements at the end
of part B and most students progressed after resit.
·
Positive
external examiners report. The EE
recommended changes to the BEng Design Project module to bring it closer in
structure to that on the MEng programme but the department has delayed any
changes until after the accreditation visit in 2006.
2 Construction Engineering Management
(CEM).
·
Increased
applications, intake numbers remained stable and intake quality improved
·
Excellent
progression rates.
·
External
Examiners report is very positive.
3 Commercial
Management & Quantity Surveying (CMQS)
·
Applications
increased by 50% in 2005, intake numbers by 10% and intake quality by an
average of 20 UCAS points over the last two years. Aplications for 2006 have again risen
·
Progression
rates are good with improvement in the part B results which were reported as
low last year.
·
Excellent
External Examiners report.
4 Architectural Design Management (AEDM)
·
Applications
increased by 50%, intake numbers stable and intake quality continues to
increase.
·
Progression
rates are good..
5
Transport
Management & Planning (TMP) & Air Transport management (ATM)
·
ATM
applications continue to fall and intake fell by 40% in 2005. There is now more competition from other
universities for programmes of this type.
Overall the intake to the transport programmes is falling and this needs
to be addressed.
·
Progression
rates on ATM are good. A high proportion of part A TMP students failed; numbers
are small and staff identified a weak intake but the issue needs monitoring.
·
Staffing
issues reported last year have alleviated with the appointment of two more
staff and a further post advertised.
·
The
external examiner is generally positive but raised concerns over dissertation
marks. Whilst happy with the outcome of
the marking he would like to see some written justification for marks awarded. He also feels that staff should award
excellent work higher marks than just over 70%.
The department is addressing these issues.
6 Airport
Planning & Management (MSc).
·
This
was discontinued for 2004-05 because the department no longer had the staff to
deliver it following staff departures.
The remaining part-time students had an available route to complete the
MSc through the modules on offer in 2004-05.
It has been replaced with Transport Policy and Business Management which
took a first intake of students in 2005-06
7 Construction
Management (CM) & Construction Project Management (MSc’s) (CPM)
·
Numbers
were restricted in 2004 and the English requirement increased to 6.5 IELTS to
alleviated the problems caused by large numbers reported in the previous
year. However intake fell again in 2005
particularly from
·
There
is a better mix of nationalities on the programme which the students find a
benefit.
·
The
department is still concerned about the language skills of some students even
after coming through the pre-sessional courses.
Poor English skills were a cause of failure. It is hoped that the increased length of the
English courses introduced by the English Language Study Unit will address this
problem.
·
Very
positive External Examiners report but he wished to see more assessed
coursework which will be provided next year.
8 Building Services
(MSc).
·
Intake
numbers fell in 2005. the department is
to offer £1500 bursaries on this programme and increase marketing.
·
The
department had to deal with a number of cases of plagiarism (minor) and have
taken steps to increase still further student awareness of the issue.
·
Good
external examiners report. All EE
reports consistently commend the department’s administration of the exam
process.
9
Water
Engineering Development Centre (WEDC)
·
Intake
numbers increased on the conventionally taught programmes particularly Water
and Environmental Management.
·
The
Urban and Environment Engineering MSc has not been formally discontinued but is
not actively recruiting.
·
The
staff student committee raised a number of issues including a module that had
problems due to the sudden departure of a member of staff to help with the
Tsunami relief. All issues were
eventually resolved.
·
The
DL programmes have around 80 students with a member of staff to support them. Some issues with late return of coursework.
·
Good
external examiner’s report. He
commended the use of external local guarantors for DL students to support them
locally and aid quality assurance. The
external commented adversely on the quality of the WEDC buildings and this
should be resolved when the extension to the CBE building is complete and WEDC
move into better accommodation.
Chemical
Engineering
1.
The
department has put considerable effort into the admissions process but
undergraduate home recruitment remains difficult. The department is concerned that the
condition of their building hinders recruitment
2.
International
recruitment after recent growth, particularly at postgraduate level, has
stabilised.
3.
The
department is concerned at their high student/staff ratios and has concerns
about high teaching loads and ability to cover all subject areas. New staff appointments have been made but
these have been offset by resignations and retirements.
4.
The
department achieved an excellent result in the NSS and received excellent
External Examiners reports
5.
Progression
rates were good overall although a significant number of students needed
resits. Attendant was used to monitor
student attendance for the first time and this worked well.
Mechanical &
Manufacturing Engineering
1 The issues raised at last years Periodic
Programme review were discussed.
2 A student committee has been formed for
2005-06 led by the students based on the model proposed by the students union. This is working well.
3 A comprehensive analysis of student
feedback was provided for each programme with clear evidence that appropriate
action has been taken where appropriate.
4 Mechanical Engineering BEng/MEng
·
Applications
rose for both 2004 and 2005 entry, an increase of 35% over 2 years. 2005 intake was lower than the previous year,
a deliberate policy, and intake quality in terms of UCAS points increased.
·
There
were a large number of part A withdrawals (15), 6 for a variety of reasons and 9
due to exam failure (7 of these transferred to other LU programmes). The school is concerned at the increase which
may in part be due to the increase in student numbers. They have strengthened personal tutoring
arrangements and providing extra lectures on study skills. The school is monitoring the issue.
·
A
relatively large number of students need to resit part B of the BEng. The school continues to monitor this issue.
·
The
school was concerned that the take up of DIS placements was low. This year they have introduced a DIS day at
the start of the academic year and required all students to submit a CV to
their personal tutor. It is hoped that
this will encourage students to apply for placements earlier in the year and
increase take up.
·
The
feedback from students on the end of course questionnaire was very good. External examiners report very positive.
5 Product
Design and Manufacture BEng/MEng
- Applications were up slightly
but intake was down 40%. The school
faces more competition for this programme both internally (D&T) and
externally now other universities have started similar programmes (
- Student feedback indicates
confusion on the expected balance between Product Design and Engineering
which was also identified at PPR last year. The changes to course marketing material
and open day presentations are intended to address this.
6
Manufacturing
Engineering and Management BEng
- Admission numbers are small but
stable (17). The programme has
benefited from the new Innovative Manufacturing Engineering programme by
picking up students who have not made the higher entry requirements of the
new programme.
- It is difficult to recruit
directly to the programme and a number of students arrive through change
course offers from other programmes in the facaulty. This creates a diverse student group in
terms of entry qualifications and leads to lower progression rates
particularly in part A.
7 Sports
Technology BSc
- Applications rose by 30% for
2005 entry, intake has remained stable at around 30.
- Progression statistics are
good.
- Student feedback highlighted
criticism of some modules that they did not feel were sufficiently focused
on sports technology. This has
arisen where options are taken that are offered on other programmes within
the school. Some module content has
been modified to address this issue.
8 Innovative manufacturing Technology MEng
- The first entry through UCAS
was in 2004 (4 students taken by internal transfer the previous year. The intake is small (<10) but high
quality and all students are sponsored.
- Progression is excellent and
the first graduates are expected in 2007
9 Post Graduate MSc
- The school runs 5 MSc
programmes; the Engineering
Management programme which is part time only is no longer recruiting.
- Admissions fell last year
across the programmes. The school
is to start an MSc in Mechanical Engineering which is expected to be
attractive to international students.
- There have been a larger number
of students requiring resits or not submitting projects this year
particularly on Manufacturing Management.
The reason appears to be connected with English language skills of
international students.
- The external examiner was
concerned that a large number of the projects on Engineering Design had
little or no design content. The school
has changed the project allocation system to ensure that it is addressed. The external also expressed concern that
the number of staff with specific experience in design had declined; the school is aware that this could be
an issue.
- The external examiner for
Manufacturing Management raised a number of issues relating to examination
papers and the alignment of some projects to the programme title. The school has taken action to address
these issues.
10 The
department has concerns about some of the provisions they are having to make
for students with special needs. They
are also uncomfortable that some students who have allocated notetakers for
lectures then do not attend the lectures themselves. A meeting with DANS would help clarify some
of the issues
Electrical and Electronic
Engineering
1.
This
issues raised by the PPR conducted in 2003-04 were discussed at the meeting.
2
Direct
intake to the department’s UG programmes fell by 21% in 2005 increasing
the reliance on the foundation year to fill quota. Intake quality rose. The department recognises that conversion
rates of applicants to CF is low and has revamped student visits for this year.
3
The
new Systems Engineering BEng had a first intake of 17 which is encouraging but
MEng recruitment fell to 15. In the
previous two years MEng recruitment has been at 50. BAE sponsorship no longer applies to Parts A
& B and this may have had an impact.
4
The
department has a large number of degree titles some of which attract small
numbers of applicants. Programmes have
common parts A & B and specialist modules for each programme for later
years are delivered by linking to an associated MSc. The department feels that this strategy
increases recruitment which national data shows is a problem in Electrical
Engineering.
5
The
use of year long modules was extended to part B in 2004-05. Overall progression rates for parts A & B
are still lower than hoped for and there is a reliance on resits particularly
on the BEng programmes. Low progression
rates may be due to a weaker cohort but it will be monitored.
6
Some
of the small number of students taken in without A level Maths as a trial have
graduated. Whilst the department will
accept numerate A level subjects in lieu of Maths it no longer explicitly
advertises the option. The trial has
strengthened the co-operation with the Maths Education Centre which benefits
students.
7
Recruitment
to MSc programmes fell last year. A
large part of this was due to students who were expected failing to arrive
because of visa and funding problems.
The department has had problems in the turn round time of applications
but improvements have been made in the process for 2005-06.
8
External
Examiners reports are very positive about overall standards on the programme
but raised a number of specific issues which included the
·
wide
variation in module marks with some very high and some very low could adversely
affect individual students depending on option choice,
·
fixing
of degree boundaries where students separated by very small differences in
marks,
·
lack
of transparency in checking and double marking of exam scripts.
The department has had a dialogue
with the external examiners and is taking appropriate action.
9
The
department had a successful accreditation visit from the professional
institutions with all programmes being re-accredited for a further 5 years. A number of commendable aspects were
identified including the support for mathematics. The report did highlight a number of items to
be addressed which included the
· reviewing the part B progression
requirements for MEng programmes to reduce the number graduating with 2:2
degrees,
· the application of some QA
procedures was described as ‘patchy’,
· wide variation in module marks.
· objectivity of the current project
assessment system.
All of these issues are being addressed