Transcript Imperial College London

Engineering the future: universities and
education
Sir Keith O’Nions
President & Rector
June 2014
Introduction
•
For generations, Engineering has produced solutions to
society’s pressing challenges and opportunities.
•
The national and global infrastructures that support us
are a triumph of engineering.
•
Engineering has progressively broadened its scope
from civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical disciplines
into spheres such as big data and biomedical
engineering.
•
The challenges that face a global population of 7bn
make for an exciting and demanding future for
engineering.
•
The education and training of engineers reflects these
challenges, scientific and technological progress, and
the progression of a globalised business environment.
Engineering rises to the challenge
Health
Environment
Energy
Food
Engineering is
poised to address
some of the
greatest
challenges that
the future holds.
Climate
Data
Security
Healthcare – personalised Medicine
Engineering across disciplines to
improve health and well-being
Doctors look at your medical
history … soon they will look
at your medical future !
Biological Algorithms
Ultra low power
Wireless
Toumaz Group SensiumVitals®Patch
Continuous
monitoring
Collect
Healthcare – DNA analysis
Prepare
DNA Electronics
Fast, affordable and lab-free DNA
diagnostics
Test
Engineers will make a vital contribution to
finding solutions to the challenges and
opportunities presented by big data
Big data
Climate
Air Traffic
Data analytics
Security
Biomedical research
and personal health
Predictive
models of
disease
Communications
Eric Schadt
2012
Traffic
Finance
Cyber security and networks
Secure
storage
Encryption
Secure
Digital
infrastructure
Engineering will
help us protect our
information in a
connected world
Environment and urbanization
2.1 million deaths worldwide due
to outdoor air pollution (WHO).
Additional Toxic releases
(accidental, terror).
Engineering will improve
Cities & Urban Environment
by Controlling & Minimising
Pollution Exposure
Engineering solutions: a continuum of activity
Without “real world” and “market-led” demand,
and grand challenges it lacks purpose
Discovery
science
Engineering
solutions
Industry
Global
challenges
Without “discovery research”, engineering
lacks a foundation for future
Engineering education: driving forces
Rigorous
command of
engineering
disciplines
Globalisation –
a ‘global’
engineer
Imperial
graduate
engineers
reside in nearly
every country
in the world.
Meet
accreditation /
charter
requirements
Engage with
real world
problems in
industry
Educating engineers in 2020: a view from 2005
•
•
•
•
Rigorous fundamental disciplines
Participate in research teams
Perform challenging work in industry
Professional experience in other countries
To which we might add:
• Exposure to innovation and entrepreneurship
• Management & global business
Charles Vest,
National Academy
of Engineering, 2005
Engineering education: questions arising
• What is the role of an engineering degree course in an
engineer’s career journey?
•
Pre-university
4 year MEng
Postgraduate
study
How much can be
achieved in 4 years?
Work based
training
Continuing
professional
development
Engineering education: another continuum
Core disciplines,
multidisciplinary
environment
Industry and
management
Innovation and
entrepreneurship
Global
outlook
An entrepreneurial
environment
A successful engineering
education cannot be
delivered through
academic course content
alone.
Connectivity
Co-location and
collaboration
Culture
Learning
Facilities
Talented
people
Placements
Student
project
Visits
Exchanges
The cultural and entrepreneurial
environment in which education
takes place is also vital.
Imperial West: education and training in
Imperial’s new innovation district
• Delivering multidisciplinary
education alongside research
and industry
• Space for university spin-out and
start up activity
• Education embedded in a
research & innovation ecosystem
• Continuing professional
development and executive
education
Imperial West: the future for Imperial
Research and Translation Hub
Imperial West: the future for Imperial
Biomedical Engineering Hub
• Next generation training
environment
• Co-location of engineers,
scientists, medics, spin-out
companies and patientfacing clinical activities.
Thank you
Sir Keith O’Nions
President & Rector