Entrepreneurial Universities that blend Business with Engineering

17 Oct 2017

The study of engineering opens doors to a wealth of graduate opportunities and specialisations. Engineering is at the heart of everything we do, paving the way for technological innovation now and long into the future. Engineering graduates lie at the heart of these developments, forging new ideas and products that help shape the world.

There is growing, constant global demand for highly-skilled engineers, who often find themselves in well-paid jobs soon after graduation. A 2016 study from EngineeringUK found that engineering graduates are seven percent more likely to have found full-time employment within six months of graduation than those of other subjects. That same report found that the mean basic annual income for a Chartered Engineer is more than double the mean UK wage.

The need for engineers is also worldwide, with a degree in engineering taking students to every corner of the globe. It’s a course that instils valuable transferable skills such in leadership, decision making, problem solving and communication, letting them move between sectors and industries until they find the perfect role.

Below are six Engineering Schools that are global leaders in engineering education…

THAYER SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

Established in New Hampshire in 1867, Dartmouth boasts one of the oldest engineering schools in the United States. Founder Sylvanus Thayer believed that engineering in the context of a liberal arts education provides the best preparation for solving some of the world’s most pressing issues.

The community spirit of the Thayer School of Engineering is underwritten by the absence of departments. Expertise from across the engineering disciplines converges to cross-reference ideas and theories and push innovation to the highest level. Students are mentored by professors who regularly cross traditional disciplines to envision solutions to today’s problems. Additionally, students have ready access to professors throughout the university, including Tuck School of Business.

Undergraduates study engineering as part of a liberal arts education that leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree, with the majority of majors taking additional courses for the Bachelor of Engineering degree. Graduate programmes include the Master of Engineering Management (MEM), MS, PhD, dual degrees with Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and the country’s first PhD Innovation Programme dedicated to entrepreneurship.

Students hone leadership skills while gaining expertise in their chosen focus area. A third of the engineering faculty have started companies and are ready to impart entrepreneurial knowledge to students.

“To prepare the most capable and faithful for the most responsible positions and the most difficult service.” – Sylvanus Thayer, Founder

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON (UCL)

UCL founded the world’s first laboratory dedicated to the education of engineering in 1827, and remains one of the top destinations in the world to study this subject.

Here, students represent more than 120 nations worldwide, reflecting the uniquely international philosophy at UCL. A sister campus in Adelaide, Australia, specialises in energy and resources, while the school also has a partnership with Nazarbayev University in Khazakstan.

Graduates from UCL often progress into a wide range of roles within the engineering and technology sectors, and beyond. Collaborations with 10 other faculties at UCL, including the Slade School of Fine Art and the School of Life and Medical Science, means that study transcends traditional boundaries, offering students to opportunity to explore new ideas and harvest innovative thinking.

The university pioneers the usage of new teaching methods for undergraduate study – the Integrated Engineering Programme is a new integrated framework that combines innovating teaching methods with a range of industry-orientated degrees. Three quarters of staff here are rated as world-leading or internationally-excellent quality in the latest UK independent Research Assessment Exercise – highlighting the esteemed expertise of the academic staff.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

The School of Engineering is one of the largest schools at the University of Edinburgh, producing graduates equipped for personal and professional achievement. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) review, the school was ranked first in UK engineering, scoring higher than any UK engineering submission to any REF panel.

The mission of the school is to foster outstanding learning and scholarship via the highest quality of teaching and research methodology. Through the discipline of engineering, the University seeks to enhance the scientific, cultural and economic wellbeing of society, contributing to the quality of life and aspirations of humanity.

Courses here challenge students to use their skills, intelligence and creativity to overcome engineering obstacles, and develop new skills which will help secure a position in the engineering world after graduation.

Over 2,000 students study across five teaching disciplines and seven Research institutes, covering the spectrum of world-leading engineering. The Chemical Engineering department is recognised as the best in Scotland, with the highest starting salaries in the UK, while the Electronics and Electrical Engineering department was the only school in Scotland to be awarded %* in the latest Research Assessment exercise.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCES, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Princeton University is a world-class engineering school that shares a vibrant campus with leaders in humanities, public policy, and the social and natural sciences.

Students are taught to think deeply and critically about the technological, political, economic and cultural challenges faced by society today. The collaborative culture of the campus helps to approach problems from new perspectives, instilling the ability to think outside of the box into students.

Undergraduate engineering programmes at Princeton University scale six departments, enabling students to pursue their personal aspirations or interests. Interdepartmental certificate programmes provide structure and recognition for interdisciplinary studies beyond a student’s major. The focused and flexible nature of the course provides the perfect platform for success in the world of engineering, science, business, law, medicine and public service.

Princeton Engineering offers graduate programmes leading to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Science in Engineering (MSE), or Master of Engineering (MEng). Every Princeton Engineering PhD student receives full funding, while master’s students may receive teaching and/or research assistantships.

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, CARDIFF UNIVERSITY

Cardiff University is home to internationally-renowned research in the field of engineering, placing students at the heart of the learning experience. In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF), the School of Engineering at Cardiff was ranked first in the UK for Civil Engineering and seventh in the UK for General Engineering – which incorporates its Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic Engineering disciplines.

Undergraduate programmes at the university are highly-valued by the engineering world. The school is one of very few to be part of both the Power Academy and the Electronic Skills Foundation, which provide invaluable industrial experience, professional development courses and scholarships for students.

Equality is championed at Cardiff, which has a number of initiatives and policies to promote diversity and equality. Female staff and students reside in an environment of support where they are encouraged to flourish in their respective disciplines, resulting in the school being awarded the Athena Swan Bronze Award.

Professor Sam Evans, Head of Engineering at Cardiff University, said: “We aim to provide a supportive, friendly and stimulating environment which allows students to fulfil their potential, while producing world-class research that benefits the local, national and international community.”

McCORMICK SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

McCormick School of Engineering has provided a first-class academic experience at Northwestern University since 1909. This is a school with two parallel missions: to produce new knowledge and to engage and educate students.

Undergraduate and graduate programmes have been specifically-designed with innovation in mind. They are collaborative, dynamic research programmes that produce graduates who are technically-skilled across several disciplines.

Students are taught valuable leadership and problem-solving skills, while the school also offers a unique assessment tool that helps students understand how their teamwork and leadership abilities can be improved.

Entrepreneurship and innovation activities are abundant at McCormick, ranging from named centres and institutes to student groups and administrative offices. Best-in-class resources and mentorship are provided to motivate researchers and students, teaching them the necessary skills to move into engineering in a professional capacity.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International