Experts probe ways to improve postgraduate education

Cranfield University, in partnership with The Higher Education Academy (HEA), has published a report seeking "a revolutionary improvement in postgraduate education" (see 'downloads' section at the end of this story). Publication of the report – Excellence in Postgraduate Education: Manufacturing, Materials and Design – followed a meeting of experts from universities, accreditation bodies and manufacturing industry. This discussed postgraduate course content, teaching and delivery styles, teacher roles, influences on student satisfaction, assessments and employers' views of postgraduates. The report said: "Postgraduate education has received inadequate attention and... a significant amount of further discussion, research and action is required to aspire towards the provision of an effective, flexible and valuable postgraduate learning experience." It said there had been a dramatic rise in the number postgraduates in the UK in the past 15 years with enrolments growing by 45% between 2003 and 2010: "Extensive research has been undertaken in the field of the student experience, teaching and learning at undergraduate level. However, research in the area of postgraduate education is significantly lacking." It added that student dissatisfaction has been proposed as one of the reasons for the decline in engineering and technology postgraduate student numbers of -13.5% (full time) and -15.4% (part time) over the last two years. "Given the rapid technological change we are facing; science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills are especially vital. As our economy recovers and rebalances, the Perkins Review (2013) deems it the right time to ask whether the current arrangements for the provision of engineering and manufacturing knowledge, skills and abilities are fit for purpose," the report said. It warned of a serious risk that falling student numbers could lead to a new wave of skills shortages and called for more research, in collaboration with industry, into ways to close the gap between the needs of industry and postgraduate education. It also recommends developing a manufacturing, materials and design postgraduate education 'road map' that links to technology and business, and a clear taxonomy of postgraduate education across sectors. The next 'Excellence in post graduate education – Manufacturing, Materials and Design' event will be on 30 April 2015. To join the debate, visit the LinkedIn page: http://linkd.in/1mkU6Ti