A free professorial lecture taking place at Coventry University on Thursday 29th November is set to explore the importance of practical experience in engineering education.
Prof John Davies
John Davies, professor of civil engineering, will discuss how real-world projects and problems can reinforce students’ understanding of basic engineering principles and encourage a new approach to teaching in the subject.
Professor Davies’ talk follows a recent call by the Royal Academy of Engineering for degrees to be more ‘experience-led’ in order to prepare engineering graduates more effectively for real-life industry.
The lecture will explore this concept of ‘activity-led learning’ – a teaching technique used at Coventry University – which gives students problem-solving challenges that motivate their learning and equip them with the skills and experience employers are looking for.
As well as students, academic staff in engineering education will also be considered – particularly in relation to the challenges they face in ensuring they are taken seriously as scholars in their own field.
Professor Davies recently won a top accolade from the Higher Education Academy’s National Teaching Fellowship Scheme, which recognises and rewards excellence in teaching and learning.
The talk is the third in the professorial lecture series, whose speakers will discuss a different topic each month. Coming up later in 2012 and in early 2013:
- Cultural relations in a world of difference – Professor Mike Hardy, December 4th 2012.
- They shoot, but do they score – where to now for sport in the 21st century? – Professor Simon Chadwick, January 31st 2013.
- The state of mathematics education in England and what Coventry University is doing about it – Professor Duncan Lawson, February 21st 2013.
All the lectures are free and open to the public, and take place from 4pm at the TechnoCentre, Coventry University Technology Park, on the dates displayed.
To book a place, please visit www.coventry.ac.uk/professoriallectures.
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