Engineering

Developing Moral Capital

In Engineering we focus on the moral implications of the materials we use and the impact they have on the world around us and the environment. We consider the whole life cycle of modern engineered products from design idea generation to recycling possibilities at the end of a product’s life, as well as any required maintenance through that time. We look for solutions which minimise negative environmental impacts and learn about new and emerging technologies which may lessen them further in future. We acknowledge that mistakes were made in the field of engineering in the past and seek to find ways to correct these mistakes in future.

Developing Social Capital

We recognise Engineering is a global field with many different fields and opportunities within it. We encourage our students to learn about great engineers and engineering achievements throughout the work and seek to work alongside different disciplines to achieve greater things through shared knowledge and enterprise. While we appreciate the importance of individual work, in engineering our students also have the opportunity to work in small groups towards common goals in order to develop their communication and cooperation skills.

Developing Cultural Capital

Many of the most significant achievements in modern engineering have taken place around the world and when our students learn about the effects of engineering achievements they will look at case studies from Southern France, the United States and China as well as London to name but a few. Often these developments are driven by cultural practices and students will learn of these also.

Developing Knowledge Capital

Students of Engineering will learn the basic principles of its three sub-groups; Structural engineering, mechanical engineering and electronic engineering. They will learn through a variety of classroom and workshop based tasks and will be assessed through a combination of two internally-assessed units and one external examination. Some of the content covered in this course will be covered elsewhere in the curriculum such as in Science and Mathematics, and as such will give students a chance to see how these overlap and complement each other. Students will also learn and develop their engineering drawing skills, along with freehand and 3D sketching. This part of the course comes up in all 3 assessed units and is a key area of learning for our students.

Through completion of a number of tasks and assignments over the two years of study,, students will gradually become independent problem solvers and potential future engineers.

Developing Community Capital

Students of Engineering are taught to have a respect for cultures and beliefs other than just their own. They will consider potential consumers of engineered products and how they can be made or improved to meet their specific needs. In looking at engineering achievements of the past consideration is given to the specific needs of the market at the time and how those developments enhanced the lives of those who used or were affected by them.

When learning about materials particularly, engineering students will consider the impact of the production of various material options including those affecting the job prospects and quality of life of the communities close to where that production takes place. Consideration is given to the end cost of engineered products compared to the level of pay and standard of living of those involved in the whole production process. Students are encouraged to make conscious choices about the options they have and will know where and how the various processes in the life of an engineered product will take place.