Foundation DegreeinCivil Engineering Construction

Phil SargentBEng MRICS MInstCES

20 October 2005 3HEA - ESC FD Workshop

NTU FD in Civil Engineering Construction

•Current state– Overview– Structure– Entry requirements– Entry profile– Progression routes– Quality indicators– Student achievement– Rationale

•Developments under discussion

20 October 2005 4HEA - ESC FD Workshop

NTU FD in Civil Engineering ConstructionCurrent State

Overview

• 2 year, full-time course

• Validated for start in Sept 2000 (pre-Prospectus)– now on 6th intake

• No consortium partners – delivered at NTU only

• No work-based delivery or assessment– simulated work-based activities provide work-related learning

• Employer involvement– initial design, validation, later amendments through Advisory Board– informal contact, discussions, feedback

20 October 2005 5HEA - ESC FD Workshop

NTU FD in Civil Engineering ConstructionCurrent State

Structure

Level 1

• Information and Communication Studies (20 CP)

• Mathematics and Measurement (20 CP)

• Structures and Materials (20 CP)

• Geospatial Skills (30 CP)

• Construction and Procedures (30 CP)

20 October 2005 6HEA - ESC FD Workshop

NTU FD in Civil Engineering ConstructionCurrent State

Structure

Level 2

• Site Engineering (30 CP)

• Engineering Surveying and Setting-out (30 CP)

• Construction Materials and Testing (20 CP)

• Construction Business Project (20 CP)

• Option (20 CP)– Building Technology– Language

20 October 2005 7HEA - ESC FD Workshop

NTU FD in Civil Engineering ConstructionCurrent State

Entry requirements

• 100 points– Two 6-unit subjects, one of which will be a numerate subject

or

– Two 6-unit non numerate subjects supported by Maths or another numerate subject at AS/Vocational AS-level

or

– A 6-unit vocational A-level in an appropriate subject relevant to the degree course

or

– Edexcel/BTEC study in a relevant area with a level three Diploma including three merits or a level three Certificate including two merits.

and

– GCSE Grade C in Maths and English where not covered at AS or Advanced level.

20 October 2005 8HEA - ESC FD Workshop

NTU FD in Civil Engineering ConstructionCurrent State

Entry profile

• Based on first four intakes (2000 – 2003)– 95% male, 5% female– 76% aged <21; 9% aged 21-25; ….; 2% aged 40+– 77% from education/training; 23% from employment– 51% with A-level; 11% with Vocational A-level/AS level/Advanced NVQ;

5% combination; 6% BTEC ND; 24% Other Level 3; 5% AP(E)L

• Intake numbers:– 2000: 29– 2001: 28– 2002: 25– 2003: 28– 2004: 19– 2005: 38

20 October 2005 9HEA - ESC FD Workshop

NTU FD in Civil Engineering ConstructionCurrent State

Progression routes

• Gaining FdEng award (2 years) Level 3 BSc (Hons) non-accredited programme (15 months)

• Gaining FdEng award (2 years) Level 2 BSc (Hons) accredited programmes (CE & FAPMIC)

• Fast-track route: FD1 BSc (Hons) Level 2

20 October 2005 10HEA - ESC FD Workshop

NTU FD in Civil Engineering ConstructionCurrent State

Quality indicators

• QAA Review 2003– Positive threshold judgements:

• emerging academic standards and achievements

• quality of learning opportunities (incl monitoring & enhancement)

– Items of good practice and innovation identified for wider dissemination

– Positive comments on course reflection of Prospectus core features

• Support from industry– Prizes– Vacation employment– Sponsorship– Case studies & teaching material

• Student achievement

20 October 2005 11HEA - ESC FD Workshop

NTU FD in Civil Engineering ConstructionCurrent State

Student achievement

• Based on first 5 intakes (2000 – 2004):– 21 students on fast-track route BSc (Hons) Year 2– 24 students on award route BSc (Hons) Year 2– At BSc Year 2:

• 50% were in top half of cohort

• 37% were in top third of cohort

– At BSc Year 4• 65% were in top half of cohort

• 35% were in top third of cohort

– Degrees• 1 withdrawal

• 7 x 2:2

• 9 x 2:1

• 1 x first

20 October 2005 12HEA - ESC FD Workshop

NTU FD in Civil Engineering ConstructionCurrent State

Rationale

• Single centre delivery– quality

• Simulated work-based learning– nature of civil engineering industry

• Scattered locations

• Short duration contracts

• Diverse specialisms

• Temporary site-based workplaces with severe resource constraints

• Peripatetic staff

• Employer assessment in narrowly-focused sector or specialism

– No single large employer location– Different employers, different priorities – independence important– Employers don’t want work-based delivery & assessment but do

want staff of FD level & calibre produced by this course

20 October 2005 13HEA - ESC FD Workshop

NTU FD in Civil Engineering ConstructionCurrent State

Rationale

• Not a unique sector– Social services, sport and exercise science, security industry and

others share same issues•work-based delivery and assessment not practical

• Approach (simulated WBL) endorsed by QAA Review– “Employers are not engaged in the delivery of work-based learning. The

work-based learning aspects are replaced by in-house, work-related learning. This approach is appropriate for the stated programme outcomes, although it is not fully in line with the expectations of the FD core features which consider direct employer involvement in FD delivery to be highly desirable. However, the reviewers consider that the arrangements in this FD offer an interesting and pragmatic alternative model. The model might be further developed to form the basis for FD programmes where appropriate work-based activity is difficult to achieve.”

20 October 2005 14HEA - ESC FD Workshop

NTU FD in Civil Engineering ConstructionDevelopments under discussion

• All NTU courses being re-specified– Opportunities to consider…

• including short work-placement in full-time route

• other modes e.g. part-time block release

• Approached by national contractor:– Want own specific FD(s)– Group of companies across UK; no ‘local’ university or college; day

release not an option– Range of disciplines:

• construction management

• quantity surveying

• civil engineering

• Involvement with East Midlands NTI Construction Network– possibilities for region-wide, multi-disciplinary, multi-centre FD(s)

20 October 2005 15HEA - ESC FD Workshop

NTU FD in Civil Engineering Construction

Questions?