National Symposium - The Need for System Integration Capability

8th January 2020

City, University of London

https://www.city.ac.uk/events/2020/january/the-need-for-system-integration-capability

Organised by the School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering, City, University of London and the Institution of Engineering Designers.

The objectives of this seminar is to explore the current situation within the UK in the education and industrial experiences of Engineers, Product Designers and Computer Scientists in taking a systems approach to disciplinary integration. We wish to identify potential shortfalls and examine potential changes required in curricula and initial training to meet higher demands for system integration.

For over 150 years, engineering has been sub-divided into discipline groups by industry and area of expertise. Most larger projects today involve a number of those historic disciplines and are regarded as multi-disciplinary. Often, few have the breadth of understanding to ensure the integration necessary for a complex project to be a success. This can be a particular challenge where newer digital systems are being introduced into existing product fields. This system approach may require the individual historic disciplines to make compromises for the benefit of the whole design. The relevant expertise and understanding gained during design project work, both in academic courses and early training and experience, needs to be focussed to encourage understanding by novice engineers and those from related design disciplines.

Draft Programme