AEngD Survey ResultsSteering Committee Feedback4th July 2012

Marek Kubik and Felix NgResearch Engineer Representatives

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Overview

• Survey overview• Demographics• EngD Awareness• AEngD Awareness• Key Findings

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Survey Overview

• 16 Question survey

• 237 respondents

• 19 IDCs approached – 5 with <1 response.

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Demographics

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Demographics

Which year are you in?

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Demographics

What is your background?

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Demographics

How many years of industry experience?

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Demographics

Institution memberships?

• 81 not Institution members (34%)

• 1.3 memberships per respondent

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Demographics Summary• Responses from almost all IDCs• Some poorly represented• Good mix of year groups• Diverse backgrounds, industry experience and

memberships.

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EngD awareness

SITUATIONAL AWARENESSNot everyone has it.

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EngD awareness

Please state your position of the following statement, "I had a good understanding of what an EngD was when I started."

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EngD awareness

Have you had access to people that have completed an EngD and can talk to you about the experience?

Do you EXPECT the examiners that will conduct you viva to have a good understanding of the parameters to which they should judge you (compared to a PhD viva)?

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EngD awareness

Do you understand the difference between an EngD thesis and PhD thesis?

Have you had access to a published EngD thesis?

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EngD awareness summary• Most respondents knew what they were getting

into (but not all!)

• Few concerned about the viva.

• Majority have heard from successful EngD graduates.

• However, split access to published theses and split understanding of what an EngD thesis should look like.

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AEngD awareness

SITUATIONAL AWARENESSAlways look behind you.

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AEngD awareness

Please state your position of the following statement, "I feel I have a good understanding of the purpose of the AEngD."

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AEngD awareness

Please choose any following statement(s) which best describe your understanding of AEngD's primary aim

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AEngD awareness

What do you hope to gain from the formation of the AEngD? Tick any that apply.

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AEngD awareness

Please choose one of the statement below which you feel is your understanding of how the AEngD is supported.

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AEngD awareness

Choose any statement(s) that best describe why you feel the AEngD may not be of benefit to you.

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AEngD awareness

With your understanding of AEngD, Do you think you will benefit from the formation of the AEngD overall?

“My work is on pure chemistry rather than engineering”

“From my understanding I see it mainly as tool for increasing participation in EngDs and not supporting engineers once graduated”

“The centre and AEngD is new and may not help appropriately while it is still learning/developing ”

“Not looking for any support or in need of any change to my EngD”

“Without being sure what the exact purpose of the AEngD is I can't easily answer, but I also don't particularly care as I have nearly finished.”

“In my experience I've found student organisations tend to be farsical”

“Not much effort has been made to publicise it amongst EngD students” 

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AEngD awareness

With your understanding of AEngD, Do you think you will benefit from the formation of the AEngD overall?

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AEngD awareness summary• Only around 25% respondents felt they

understood what the AEngD is.• Only a handful understood how it is supported.• Most respondents believe its main purpose is

branding.• Broad expectations as to how the AEngD will

help REs.• Main barrier is currently lack of awareness.• Overall positive belief that the AEngD will be of

benefit in the future.

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Thank you.

email: m.kubik@pgr.reading.ac.ukweb: mlkubik.tumblr.comtwitter: @mlkubik