Mapping Engineering & Development Excellence in the UK

Room 00-13, Ground Floor Chambers Building, OU, Milton Keynes

International Development seminar presented by Dr Peter Robbins (DPP, OU).

Lunch (provided) from 12.00, presentation & discussion 12.30 - 14.00. To reserve your free place, please email Claire Emburey.

Abstract
In REF 2014, 6,975 impact case studies were submitted to HEFCE. We reviewed each of these case studies to assess 1) whether it had a developing country focus, either in terms of its content or research partners, 2) whether it could broadly fit, or relate to five branches of engineering (systems, mechanical, electrical, civil and chemical). From this initial review we identified 121 cases. We then reviewed these cases in detail looking at 1) What kinds of engineering and development are being done, 2) Who is engaged in engineering and development, 3) What are their networks, 4) Who are their collaborators, 5) What is the direction of technical flow – South to North or North to South, and 6) What makes excellent engineering and development?

Our findings are that engineering and development cases occur across a wide disciplinary and geographical range. However, there is almost no engineering and development occurring across large areas of the humanities and social sciences, including where it might be expected, such as Art and Design and Media, Library and Information Management. Within those that met our criteria, there is a predominance of cases illustrating North-driven high tech 'best departments with best department' networks rather than those based on 'frugal' engineering or 'inclusive innovation'. The discourse of excellence in engineering and development impact cases is consistent with ecological modernisation (EM). EM is a variation of modernisation theory, first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. It argues that the only way 'out' of the environmental crisis is to extend further 'into' the process of modernisation. As such engineering and development excellence was often defined in EM terms as technologies/research that brought both economic success and mitigated or resolved environmental, health and safety challenges.