International Fachhochschule-University Collaboration in the Delivery of a Professionally Accredited MEng Programme

Dennis McKeag, Frank Owens

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    11 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    The University of Ulster has, for some years, been operating a joint Masters of Enginering (MEng) degree with the Fachhochschule Augsburg and the Fachhochschule Kempten. In all three organizations there is commonality of programmes in the final four semesters leading to the award of the fully accredited MEng degree. Students can therefore graduate with the German qualification of Dip Ing (FH) and the British MEng qualification. Approximately 46 countries have signed up to the Bologna agreement, which aims for transferability of qualifications across member countries. This has a significant implication for engineering degree programmes across Europe where there are traditionally two types of undergraduate engineering degree each in general of three years duration, the vocational degree and the academic degree. In general only the academic degree permits students to advance to two years further study leading to the award of the professionally recognised qualification of Master of Engineering. The knowledge taught to students in engineering degrees falls into three categories, scientific which seeks to understand the created environment, technological which seeks to manipulate the created environment, and philosophical which is what is important to people. Fachhochschules traditional teach vocational degrees, those that focus on technology, whereas universities traditionally teach the academic degrees which have their basis in scientific study. However both types of institution teach design which falls into the category of philosophy, and in the context of engineering design embraces both science and technology. This paper will outline how the Fachhochschulen brand of education has successfully merged with the university style of education to produce highly innovative engineering graduates.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalProceedings of the Joint International IGIP-SEFI Annual Conference 2010
    Volume1
    Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 19 Sept 2010

    Bibliographical note

    Reference text: [1] Sorbonne Joint Declaration; Joint Declration on the Harmonization of the Architecture of the European Higher Education System; the four Ministers in charge for France, Germany, Itlay and the United Kingdom; Sorbonne, 25th May, 1998. http://www.wg.aegee.org/ewg/sorbonne.htm
    [2] Bologna declaration; The European Higher Education Area; Joint Declaration of the European Min isters of Education; Bologna, 19th June, 1999. http://www.wg.aegee.org/ewg/bolognadeclaration.htm
    [3] Bologna Process; http://www.euractiv.com/en/education/bologna-process/article-117448
    [4] The Bologna Process: A Regional Response to Global Challenges; Dr. Jan Sadlak, Director, UNESCO-CEPES; http://www.pantaneto.co.uk/issue29/sadlak.htm
    [5] McKeag, D., Developing Skills in Creativity and Innovation Through New Product Design; CONNECTED 2010 – 2nd International Conference on Design Education, 28 June, 2010, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
    [6] Parker, B., The Bologna Process and the Education of Professional Engineers; The Australian Government: Australian Education International: The Bologna Process National Seminar and Beyond, 7th September 2006; http://www.aei.gov.au/AEI/GovernmentActivities/BolognaProcess/NatSeminar.htm
    [7] Jenkinson, S.L. and Neave, G; The Finniston Report: An Enquiry Into a Profession in Transition; ERIC No. EJ234552
    [8] IEEE Xplore digital library; http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee
    [9] UK Spec: United Kingdom Standards for Professional Engineering Competence; http://www.engsc.ac.uk/downloads/Northeast/fidler.ppt
    [10] Lienhard, J.H., Engines of our Ingenuity No. 1107: Engineering Education; http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1107.htm
    [11] McGrath, D., The Bologna Declaration and Engineering Education in Ireland; Institution of Engineers of Ireland
    [12] Titel Van natuurfilosofie tot natuurwetenschap
    http://www.onderzoekinformatie.nl/en/oi/nod/onderzoek/OND1319737/
    [13] Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Philosophy of Technology
    First published Fri Feb 20, 2009; substantive revision Mon Jun 22, 2009
    http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/technology/#IntTecSci
    [14] Vincenti, W. A. (1990) What engineers know and how they know it: analytical studies from aeronautical history. Baltimore, Md./London: Johns Hopkins University Press.
    [15] McKeag, D., Embedding Creativity and Innovation in the Engineering Curriculum, Proceedings of SEFI Annual Conference 2008, paper 1260 (CD)

    Keywords

    • Design
    • innovaton
    • science
    • technology
    • philosophy
    • creativity

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'International Fachhochschule-University Collaboration in the Delivery of a Professionally Accredited MEng Programme'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this