About Engineering Systemisers
Engineering Systemisers is a UCL-led initiative with a vision to inspire and equip young people to think and act like systems engineers in everyday life and learning. It addresses a crucial gap in UK and global engineering education by providing early exposure to systems thinking in schools.
These are essential skills in today’s complex world – habits of mind for future engineers – but are typically introduced only at university or in the workplace, far too late to shape aspirations or career pathways. Engineering Systemisers contributes to “left-shifting” this systems capability journey to an earlier stage of learning.
The programme mirrors the systems engineering lifecycle, from stakeholder needs to concept design, prototyping, testing, and iteration. At its core is a participatory co-design process, bringing together engineers from diverse backgrounds, educators, and students to create inclusive, research-led learning products.
Key outcomes
The flagship output is a suite of cooperative tabletop games, focused on energy, health, transport, and space systems. These games, already trialled in five school settings, enable students to see the bigger picture, weigh trade-offs, anticipate risks, test scenarios, and experience failure in a low-risk environment. Alongside gameplay, workshops guide students to apply systems thinking concepts, design new game ideas, and pitch solutions to real-world engineering challenges.
Engineering Systemisers bridges classrooms with real-world systems by creating a practical, curriculum-aligned model for scalable, participatory, and inclusive engineering outreach. The project has engaged 140 students across five schools, mainly in under-served communities, trained 31 School Systemiser Ambassadors, and developed capacity to reach a further 1,450 students (with more than 40 schools on the waiting list).
