Higher Technological Education in England and Wales between 1955 and 1966: The Contribution of the British Electrical Engineering Industry to its Development

John Heywood

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Conference: 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Vancouver, BC
Publication Date: June 26, 2011
Start Date: June 26, 2011
End Date: June 29, 2011
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Liberal Education Revisited: Five Historical Perspectives
Tagged Division: Liberal Education/Engineering & Society
Page Count: 20
Page Numbers: 22.777.1 - 22.777.20
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--18058
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/18058
Download Count: 459

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John Heywood Trinity College, Dublin

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Professorial Fellow Emeritus of Trinity College Dublin formerly Professor and Director of Teacher Education in the University.
During the period of this paper was a lecturer in radio communications at Norwood technical College, Senior Research Fellow in Higher Technological Education at Birmingham College of Advanced Technology, and Leverhulme Senior Research Fellow in Higher Education at the University of Lancaster. Has an M.Sc. in Engineering Education from the University of Dublin.

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Abstract

Higher Technological Education in England and Wales between 1955 and 1966. The Contribution of the British Electrical Engineering Industry to its DevelopmentHistorians of education in England and Wales have given little attention to technologicaleducation in spite of the significance attached to it by policy makers particularly in theperiod 1955 to 1966. Yet this was a period when the government attempted to makemajor organizational changes to improve both the supply of technologists (mainlyengineers) to industry, and their education in the public sector. These included thedevelopment of ten Colleges of Advanced Technology, the promotion of sandwich(cooperative) courses to replace part-time courses, and the creation of an organization(National Council for Technological Awards-NCTA) for the administration of a degreeequivalent diploma (Diploma in Technology –Dip.Tech)Evidence is offered in support of the view that had not the new organization receivedsubstantial support from the electrical engineering industry the new diploma might haveonly been partially successful. The firms created Electrical and Electronics manufacturersJoint Education Board (EEMJEB) to represent them in policy discussions. They wereinstrumental in causing an official review of the structure of sandwich courses (TheRussell Committee) Among their number were several individuals who had profoundideas about the curriculum including G. S Bosworth who chaired an official committeeon the matter.The paper begins with a description of the different education systems in the British Isles.The terms public and private are defined. These are followed by a description of thechanges in the public sector education of technologists in England and Wales during theperiod 1955 – 1966. A brief comment is given on their origins. This is followed by adescription of the British electrical engineering industry, and the support it gave to thedevelopment of the Dip.Tech in terms of student numbers. An evaluation of the work ofEEMJEB is given. It is suggested that the contributions of G. S Bosworth and some of itsmembers to the philosophy of the engineering curriculum continue to be relevant.

Citation
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Heywood, J. (2011, June), Higher Technological Education in England and Wales between 1955 and 1966: The Contribution of the British Electrical Engineering Industry to its Development Paper presented at 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Vancouver, BC. 10.18260/1-2--18058

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -   Higher Technological Education in England and Wales between 1955    and 1966. The Contribution of the British Electrical Engineering                     Industry to its DevelopmentHistorians of education in England and Wales have given little attention to technologicaleducation in spite of the significance attached to it by policy makers particularly in theperiod 1955 to 1966. Yet this was a period when the government attempted to makemajor organizational changes to improve both the supply of technologists (mainlyengineers) to industry, and their education in the public sector. These included thedevelopment of ten Colleges of Advanced Technology, the promotion of sandwich(cooperative) courses to replace part-time courses, and the creation of an organization(National Council for Technological Awards-NCTA) for the administration of a degreeequivalent diploma (Diploma in Technology –Dip.Tech)Evidence is offered in support of the view that had not the new organization receivedsubstantial support from the electrical engineering industry the new diploma might haveonly been partially successful. The firms created Electrical and Electronics manufacturersJoint Education Board (EEMJEB) to represent them in policy discussions. They wereinstrumental in causing an official review of the structure of sandwich courses (TheRussell Committee) Among their number were several individuals who had profoundideas about the curriculum including G. S Bosworth who chaired an official committeeon the matter.The paper begins with a description of the different education systems in the British Isles.The terms public and private are defined. These are followed by a description of thechanges in the public sector education of technologists in England and Wales during theperiod 1955 – 1966. A brief comment is given on their origins. This is followed by adescription of the British electrical engineering industry, and the support it gave to thedevelopment of the Dip.Tech in terms of student numbers. An evaluation of the work ofEEMJEB is given. It is suggested that the contributions of G. S Bosworth and some of itsmembers to the philosophy of the engineering curriculum continue to be relevant.
AU  - John Heywood
CY  - Vancouver, BC
DA  - 2011/06/26
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Higher Technological Education in England and Wales between 1955 and 1966: The Contribution of the British Electrical Engineering Industry to its Development
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/18058
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--18058
ER  -