The Centre for Engineering Education Launched

Over 80 educators and champions packed the launch, to discuss the Centre’s ambitions as well as to share ideas through candid workshops on topics like funding, professional development, scholarship, and collaborative initiatives.

A number of findings were highlighted as a result of the workshop themes (Financial Support & Resources; Teaching Tools & Infrastructure; Collaboration and Communication; Academic Engagement and Conferences; Skill Development and Continuous Learning) as key areas for improvement and strategic interventions. Areas such as securing resources (GTA support, scholarship funds, conference funding), mentoring programs, training, and tech integration were high on the list of priorities that attendees would like the Centre to support.

The opening of the Centre provides teaching-active staff, Graduate Teaching Assistant’s (GTA’s) and those who support the delivery of education, an opportunity to share ideas, knowledge and to amplify Sheffield's educational achievements, gaining well-deserved recognition for their invaluable work.

Drawing expertise from across the faculty, including engineering departments, professional and central services, the Centre’s Delivery Group formulated three ambitious goals:

• A better student learning experience through higher quality education

• A range of opportunities for professional development for staff involved in teaching

• An enhanced external reputation for engineering education at Sheffield

Professor Stephen Beck, Director of CEE, said: “This new centre will help all staff in the faculty with an interest in teaching to improve on what they do, their career prospects and their external reputation. It will mean that our students will get a great learning experience, and also know that they are getting taught in a great environment by inspiring teachers.

I’m really excited by this new initiative and I’m anticipating looking back to this occasion as a step change in our reputation, capabilities and, above all, belief in the superb quality of the education of our students and their teachers.”

Professor Conchúr Ó Brádaigh, VP & Head of Engineering, said: “I believe the Centre for Engineering Education will really help us to be thought of as leaders in education as it allows us to work together to tell other educators, prospective and current students, that Sheffield has large numbers of great educators and that they are doing world leading teaching.”

Professor Matt Carré, Faculty Director of Education, said: “It has been fantastic to see so many staff passionate about education sharing their thoughts and ideas at the launch event. I’m hugely excited to see the benefits that the new Centre can bring to staff and students in Engineering.”

Professor Mary Vincent, Vice-president of Education was also in attendance and looked forward to seeing the collaboration between staff and students.

Read on for a personal perspective from Dr Michael Trikic on the Practical Engineering Education Blog.