My achievements as HoD in 2015-18 are summarised below:
NSS2017: Led the spectacular Improvement (from 71% in 2016 to 92% in 2017) KU=80% Sector=84%
Complete University Guide: Amazing improvement from 2015 and moving up three places from 2018 to 2019
Recruitment: Led the amazing recruitment for UG (+24% from last year and 9% above target) and encouraging for PG (similar to last year)
Professional Practice Strategy: teaching informed by professional practice; academics engaged in the development of their professional discipline; students enabled to fulfil professional employment. In achieving these aims, we facilitate student placements; we participate in national and international student competitions; we train students for professional exams; we establish, develop and use student societies and alumni networks; we nurture relationships with industry for mentoring purposes; we have embedded professional employability into our curriculum; we provide continuous tutoring to our students (Personal Tutoring System) and support their academic skills (Academic Success Centre). Professional Practice is one of the essential pillars supporting our course design and delivery for an enhanced student experience.
Apprenticeships: Kingston University is the academic provider for London and the South working with other regional providers Coventry University, Leeds College of Building-University, Liverpool J Moores University, University of West of England & Solihull College and employers Arup, Atkins, Mott MacDonald, Ch2M Hill and Mouchel as part of the design group for the delivery of the employer-driven Advanced (Degree Level 6 – Integrating a JBM accredited BEng with IEng competences) Technician Apprenticeships in Civil Engineering programme under the Technician Apprenticeships Consortium (http://www.tacnet.org.uk/home/511). 100 apprentices have joined our DA Civil Engineering programme on a 1day-release basis from Jan 2018 with funding secured from the Government's apprenticeships levy 2017 & HEFCE support. First graduations in 2020.
Development and Validation of New Programmes: It was recognised that current provision at Kingston was outdated and needed to be refocused and reinvigorated to offer programmes with a clearer industry employer focus. The refocused BEng in Civil and Infrastructure Engineering is designed to facilitate integrated teaching across the Faculty's Engineering provision e.g. with Mechanical Engineering that will be based on project-based inter-disciplinary work at all levels. In parallel, the opportunity was taken to embed latest developments in Teaching and Learning. T&L sessions adopt a hybrid approach based on modern pedagogical principles. Active delivery of syllabus is used throughout dependent on individual module requirements. For any topics where a more formal didactic approach is deemed the most appropriate, the delivery still involves active participation by students, for example, working through exercises and/or using classroom response systems. Subject material and corresponding techniques are typically introduced via problem-centred learning approach to replace traditional lectures. With regard to the new MEng with Industry Experience, this is a four-year integrated course with 1st, 2nd and 4th year at University and the 3rd year in Industry on successful placement; it is designed to balance the traditional engineering science curriculum with industry-driven competencies in close collaboration with the Industry. The distinctive feature of this MEng with Industrial Experience degree provision at Kingston University is that it provides a fast-track opportunity to obtain a degree. During the one year placement students will gain valuable real world, industrial experience and further develop their employability skills.
ICE's Academic Partner: This partnership will provide Kingston and its students a bridge to industry; ICE will help to prepare students for industry, working with the employability team to support student career and employment activity; ICE will provide students with access to ICE IPD Online tool so they can start to record their professional development, giving them a head-start when they seek employment; ICE events, cutting-edge knowledge resources and local employer contacts will give students a taste of professional life and the world of civil engineering. Arranged free ICE Training for academic staff to become Chartered Engineers