Faculty of Engineering

Subject: Extract from the Unconfirmed Minutes of the 17^th (Ordinary) Meeting of the Board of Engineering held on 19 May 1999.

Origin: Unconfirmed Minutes

Centre for Innovative Construction Engineering (CICE)

ENG99-P23

The Board received a briefing paper and presentation for Dr Chimay Anumba, Director of the proposed new Centre for Innovative Construction Engineering. EPSRC had awarded £3M in connection with this expansion of its Engineering Doctorate (EngD) scheme. The new Centre was based within the Department of Civil and Building Engineering.

The Board RESOLVED to recommend to Senate the formal establishment of the Centre.

The Centre for Innovative Construction Engineering (CICE) was set up in April 1999 following an expansion of the EPSRC’s prestigious Engineering Doctorate (EngD) scheme. It is unique in being the only Centre of its kind devoted to meeting the research and training needs of the construction industry.

The key objectives of the Centre are:

1. To establish a high quality research and training programme that meets the needs of the construction industry, and enhances its knowledge base.
2. To foster close partnership with the industry sponsors in addressing their core technical and business needs, and to broaden industry participation in the Centre.
3. To produce high calibre doctoral graduates that can drive innovation in the industry with a high level of technical, managerial and business competence.

The EngD Centre for ‘Innovative Construction Engineering’ (CICE) is based within the Department of Civil and Building Engineering.

The Engineering Doctorate (EngD) is a four-year postgraduate award intended for the UK’s leading research engineers who aspire to key managerial positions in industry. The core of the degree is the solution of one or more significant and challenging engineering problems with an industrial context. Thus the solution of the problem will have to take factors such as financial constraints, timescales and personnel management into account.

The EngD is a radical alternative to the traditional PhD, being better suited to the needs of industry, and providing a more vocationally oriented doctorate in engineering.

• Development of innovative thinking, while tackling real industrial problems;
• Continual broadening, by gaining and applying new knowledge from a modular taught programme.

The EngD programme at Loughborough is open to graduates in any appropriate branch of engineering (or other relevant construction discipline) provided that they are articulate, well qualified and highly motivated. The minimum entry qualification is a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent. A lower qualification is acceptable if supplemented with an appropriate postgraduate (MSc) qualification and/or substantial industrial experience. Applications are particularly welcome from experienced engineers who are already employed within the construction industry.

The Research Engineers are expected to spend a large proportion (typically 70-80%) of their time at the premises of their collaborating company, depending on the nature of the project. To support the Research Engineers, packages of training courses will be individually tailored to their needs in order to develop a wider range of competencies in engineering business management, as well as specialist technical subjects. This taught component will be assessed and forms an integral part of the degree.

Specific research topics will be agreed with the industrial sponsors within the following broad themes:

• Advanced Information and Communications Technologies;
• Innovative Construction Business Processes (including knowledge management, innovative procurement and management practices, and collaborative and concurrent engineering);
• Innovative Construction Technologies (including advanced analysis and design of faculties, novel construction techniques and innovative construction materials);
• Sustainable Construction.

A ‘Doctor of Engineering’ (EngD) is awarded on successful completion. The Research Engineer should be capable of applying the knowledge and expertise acquired in a business environment in a disciplined, innovative and penetrating way. This is seen as an important element in the achievement of competitiveness of British engineering businesses.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, EPSRC, will provide the Research Engineer with support for up to four years. An enhanced tax-free stipend of over £8,000 p.a. will be provided. In addition REs will receive a minimum top-up of £3,000 p.a. (tax-free) from the industrial sponsor. The top-up can be considerably more for experienced engineers.

The EngD is assessed by means of a mini-thesis (a sample copy is available at the Centre) and a portfolio. The portfolio is built up over the period of registration and covers the key requirements for a ‘Management Development’ module and professional development. Candidates are also expected to satisfy the requirements of the taught modules, and will be encouraged to work towards Chartered Engineer status, where appropriate.

All participants are regarded as being registered full-time on the degree. It is therefore essential in the case of company employees that their day to day work and their EngD project work are as similar as possible. Attendance on modules varies from two to six weeks per annum depending on the prior qualifications and experience of the participants. In addition, it is advisable to allow at least one day per month to visit the academic supervisor and to attend individual workshops and seminars connected with the EngD.

The typical period of registration is four years but participants with prior higher qualifications and experience may complete in less time.

Each Research Engineer has an industrial supervisor and an academic supervisor who oversee the project to ensure that the objectives are achieved.

The EngD programme in Innovative Construction Engineering is supported by a wide range of leading consultants, contractors, clients and research organisations in the construction industry. These include: Ove Arup and Partners, AMEC Design and Management, W S Atkins, Balfour Beatty, Miller Construction, BRE, BCA, ECI, BT plc, Kvaerner Technology Ltd, Structherm Building Systems, Taylor Woodrow Construction, Whitby Bird and Partners, Ministry of Defence, Laing Technology Group, Crown House Engineering, Curtins Consulting Engineers, John Laing Services, Shepherd Construction, MSL Engineering, Severn Trent Water Ltd and the Steel Construction Institute.

The EngD Centre at Loughborough is overseen by a Management Committee. The membership consists of a number of senior industrialists from the sponsoring companies, Loughborough University staff and a representative from EPSRC.

Day to day running of the Centre for Innovative Construction Engineering (CICE) is undertaken by the Centre Director and Centre Administrator.

Further information can be obtained from: