A case study to demonstrate the impact of the HEA's Teaching Development Grant programme.
With over 400 students (2012/11) the School of Engineering Management has the largest number (54%) of postgraduate students in Coventry University's Engineering and Computing Faculty. Since 2007 the University has successfully introduced Activity-led Learning (ALL) into all its undergraduate Engineering courses. ALL is an innovative approach that involves students in solving real problems against real deadlines using practical skills and teamwork. The university would like postgraduate Engineering students to benefit from ALL in the same way undergraduate students have.
The school has applied for a Teaching Development Grant to help it develop a strategy and framework for delivering and assessing programmes incorporating ALL at postgraduate level. While ALL has benefitted students at undergraduate level it cannot be assumed that it will translate well to postgraduate programmes. Seventy-five percent of students are international. Many study part-time while in full-time employment studying in the evenings or on day-release. Because courses must be completed in a year there is an assumption traditional teaching methods may be preferred. Consequently any framework must be based on evidence and the views of the main stakeholders. The profile of students in the school is similar to that in other subjects and universities meaning research can be of direct influence and relevance to others.
