Teaching integrated system design with interdisciplinary group design exercises

Peter Grant, Ewen Macpherson, Gareth Harrison, Kevin M. Brunson, Robert Hyde, David Williams
2010 Engineering Education  
With funding from the UK's Royal Academy of Engineering, the University of Edinburgh has developed a set of three truly interdisciplinary group design exercises aimed at improving penultimate-year undergraduate students' ability to operate across disciplines and improve their preparation for transfer into industry. Three exercises on: hydropower system design; potable water supply; and a micro-system accelerometer, are each designed and led by a Visiting Industrial Professor. They are both
more » ... enging and popular with students and have achieved several very successful outcomes: experience of real system design; enhanced appreciation of other engineering disciplines; experience of team working where participants have different skills and expertise; demonstration of the links between design and economic viability; introduction to non-technical areas essential to fulfilling the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence, etc. Keywords Interdisciplinary design teaching; systems engineering; group design exercises; student experiences and feedback. File Word Count 6,000 words (note reduction of feedback panels can save words) Amon, C.
doi:10.11120/ened.2010.05010030 fatcat:c7xzrxxaizewfdghzakiddkiyu