Review of the Engineering Benchmark

1. Review of the Engineering Benchmark Prof David Bonner Dr David Gale

2. Why Review? • Multiple existing reference points; • One of the first four benchmarking statements; • Emergence of the Academic Infrastructure; • European harmonisation.

3. Review process • QAA agreed process; • Established an Overseeing group which has become the drafting group; • Aimed to get people involved who have worked on the other output standards documents; • Employer involvement.

4. David Bonner (Chair) – QAA benchmarking Steering Group (University of Hertfordshire) Helen Atkinson – OST (University of Leicester) Janet Berkman – EEF Graham Davies – University of Birmingham John Dickens – Engineering Subject Centre Ian Freeston – Engineering Council UK Gunter Heitmann – Engineering Education Consultant Fred Maillardet – University of Brighton Alistair Sambell – University of Northumbria Richard Shearman – Engineering Council UK Sarah Williamson – Engineering Subject Centre David Young – Policy Advisor, UUK Review Group membership

5. Structure/content • Introductory statement • Purpose, scope • Nature and extent of the subject • Engineering as a design process • Attributes of engineering graduates • Types of degree • International context • Output standards • Teaching Learning and Assessment

6. Issues to consider • Is it appropriate to be a joint document? • Threshold or beyond? • Accredited or non-accredited? • Applicability to ‘Engineering and …’ courses. • Applicability to IEng degrees. • Integrated MEng.

7. Progress to a revised benchmark • Roundtable meetings: • Birmingham: 13 April • Glasgow: 15 April • Wider national consultation of revised document; • New benchmark approved by QAA end July.