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Schemes for University Lecturers

Industrial Secondment Scheme

Hands-on experience for engineering academics

The Industrial Secondment Scheme provides an invaluable opportunity for engineering teaching staff in Higher Education institutions to gain state-of-the-art industrial experience.

Applicable to engineers of all disciplines, the scheme's objective is to enable the secondees to impart the fruits of this experience to their students through teaching, through case studies using up-to-date material and, in the longer term, through course design. The benefits also accrue to the host organization which gains a temporary but highly qualified member of staff, and to the university which has the opportunity of strengthening its links with industry.

The scheme provides funding for the university to employ a temporary replacement for the secondee. The Scheme has been well received by industry, and many organisations have indicated a willingness to offer places to engineering academics. Where possible The Royal Academy of Engineering helps in the 'matchmaking process'.

Why should you take part?

You will benefit if:

  • you have no experience of industry, or your last experience of industry was some time ago;

  • the courses which you teach require state-of-the-art industrial experience;

  • you require contemporary, realistic case-study material for lecturing purposes;

  • you need to update your knowledge of industry's application of technology in your own area of expertise;

  • you are looking to design new courses to take into account the latest practices in industry;

  • the requirement of accreditation panels is for recent industrial experience amongst academic staff;

  • your university is keen to further develop its relationships with industry.

Who may apply?

All members of the UK Higher Education institutions teaching some aspects of engineering are eligible to apply.

There are no age restrictions, but applicants will need to convince the Academy that the secondment will have a significant impact on their teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Nature of secondment

The secondment provides the applicant with industrial experience based on the 'application' of technology rather than research-based work.

Applications will be accepted for secondments to organisations which will result in a significant benefit to teaching activities. Applicants are normally expected to find their own organisation but where possible The Royal Academy of Engineering may assist in this process using its own database.

Duration of secondment

Secondments may be for any period between three and six months on a full-time basis or longer on a part-time basis.

Nature of the award

The award is intended to pay all or a proportion of the cost of a replacement lecturer to cover the teaching activities of the secondee whilst away from the university.

Dissemination of knowledge

Recipients of the award are responsible for ensuring that the knowledge and skills acquired are appropriately disseminated and applied once the secondment has ended.

A report (475KB)Adobe PDF document icon image on the secondment is to be submitted to The Royal Academy of Engineering within one month of the secondment’s completion. It is also a requirement of the Scheme that brief (one to two A4 pages-long) End-of-Year reports (504KB)Adobe PDF document icon image on secondments are submitted to The Academy one year after the completion of the secondment. Host companies are also required to fill in a Company Report form and a Third Party Income form within one month from the end of the secondment. Report guidelines are available from the scheme manager. The host and secondee reports are sent to Academy Fellows in the scheme’s Steering Group for evaluation and feedback.

The secondee and his/her line manager are visited at the host organization by the scheme manager to monitor progress.

How to apply

Applicants should complete an application form (104KB)Word document icon image and submit this to the scheme Manager together with a:

Assessment

After an initial assessment by The Royal Academy of Engineering, selected candidates will be called for an interview normally within 4 to 5 weeks from the date of the receipt of the application packs. A decision is normally conveyed to the applicant within 24 hours of the interview. The university department is notified of the outcome of the application in writing by the scheme manager. At the time of the award notification all parties are required to sign an Agreement detailing the terms and conditions of the award.

Deadlines for applications

The deadlines for applications are:

  • 30th September 2008

  • 31st January 2009


Further information

Please contact the scheme manager:

Dr Imren Markes
Manager – Industrial Secondments and Visiting Fellowships

Tel: 020 7766 0615

 
[E-mail Imren]

 

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