Engineering and Physical Sciences Education Network

Overall aim

The overall aim of the Network is to promote and share good practice and stimulate new approaches to teaching and learning. It acts as a resource for teaching-focused staff in Surrey’s Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and a platform for interdisciplinary research and development on education matters.

We regularly support initiatives and initiate projects aimed at enhancing our students’ learning experience, skills base and employability; improving and advancing learning practices in engineering education; and supporting our teaching staff.

Our teaching ethos

The Network promotes a shared, forward-thinking and dynamic teaching ethos which encompasses:

• A focus on problem-solving and project-based work right from the start of degree courses, with frequent opportunities for students to engage with research activities
• Co-operative learning practices such as peer-based tutoring, assessment and feedback
• Use of online and blended learning approaches
• Student-centred design work linked to entrepreneurship and social responsibility
• Student engagement in curriculum design
• Innovative support and development of teaching (and teachers) within a research intensive environment.

We work both across departments and in collaboration with industry to put in place projects, events and teaching resources that add value to our curricula in areas such as transferable skills, leadership and engineering ethics development.

We are also working towards introducing a ‘skills curriculum’ based on the attributes employers look for in graduates and students’ personal development needs.