Dr Andrea Wheeler, Dr Paul Rowley

MEGS-KT: An Innovative Knowledge Platform for Business and Community Engagement

A co-developed service model for online continuing professional development in the energy sector

A CROSS-INSTITUTIONAL LEARNING FRAMEWORK FOR ENERGY CPD

CONTEXTThe need for this project is identified by an active existing partnership which is a collaboration of Loughborough University, The University of Nottingham and the University of Birmingham with the energy community, which includes industry, local SME’s and entrepreneurs.

PROBLEMAddressing Energy Education Need and Demand

• The energy sector is lacking relevant, up-to-date, well delivered and desirable Continued Professional Development (CPD) opportunities.

“The interaction and learning from the cross-institutional consortium will build on current work…” Jenny Cooper, National Grid

“The ability to access tailored knowledge and training from three leading Universities in the field will be invaluable and represents a unique opportunity…” Duncan Child, E.On.

THE RIGHT TEAM • Through its existing multi- agency partnerships the Midlands Energy

Graduate School (MEGS) and the Midlands Energy Consortium (MEC) can leverage existing research, training expertise and the target partner employer community in co-development of an online service.

• Senior management support. Loughborough University as lead partners is committed to the proposed project. The Strategic Plan supports business and community engagement: ‘…working with industry to deliver flexible educational provision meeting needs of employers and employees’.

• Centre for Engineering and Design Education (CEDE) many years expertise in the development of technical solutions for the delivery and support of innovative teaching and learning.

• The School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and the CREST group will provide the academic support and direction to the project.

OBJECTIVESDeliverables and benefits

• To provide a leading-edge demonstrator service model and a collaborative knowledge service for CPD for the energy sector target employer community.

• To effectively meet need and demand with user-driven, user-developed and user-tested content harnessing web 2.0 technologies and socially driven content.

• To develop good practice guidelines for the delivery of such online educational services in HE, contributing to JISC objectives.

• To contribute to the LEP strategy building economically, environmental and socially sustainable communities by providing business opportunities for industry, local SMEs and entrepreneurs.

METHOD 1Collaborative co-design and community of practice

• Building on existing JISC research which recommends tailored relevant and mediated access to resources and networks of expertise.

• Co-development and collaborative design, critically adopting Service Design to assess needs and utilising the MEGS and MEC existing collaboration and partnerships: E.on, National Grid, Local SMEs, entrepreneurs, local energy researchers and academics.

• Using existing links with KT organisations (KTNs, I-Nets, BCC, Institutions...) to optimise dissemination.

• Community of practice: visiting MEC fellows (academic and industrial), international fellows and interns to develop an academic and industry community to contribute to and evaluate content and delivery methods.

METHOD 2Collaborative co-design and community of practice

Participative platform for knowledge sharing including:

• a mosaic of technologies; • a repository of Echo 360 seminars, laboratories, workshops and other

materials; • a directory of expertise; • A variety in modes of engagement; • together with a public facing interface for future tailored CPD

opportunities and open access e-learning materials.

RESULTImpact and vision

• A tailored, appropriate and desirable innovative CPD model in the energy sector providing a skilled workforce

• A Leading-edge business opportunity helping inform, improve and sustain local businesses and entrepreneurs

• Ongoing industry impact far beyond the duration of the JISC funding component through the MEGS partnership

• New partnerships between Higher Education and industry, enhanced institutional capability with wide interest and application, and a service model which can be transferred to other institutions and sectors.