REEdI: Rethinking Engineering Education in Ireland

The REEdI project offers an agile and innovative learning programme providing personalised, flexible and tailored options to diverse learner cohorts; from school leavers to graduating apprentices, to upskilling industry professionals and mature students. Building on the success of world-leading cutting-edge models of engineering pedagogy, we combine an innovative method of content delivery with new immersive technologies to deliver a transformative programme of self-directed and self-scheduled learning for the next generation of engineers. Learners will navigate an online learning map and complete subject paths, in their own time, at their own location, choosing material to suit their individual and unique needs. The framework will be truly innovative, drawing on international best practice in the field of engineering education. The programme enables a student-centred, project-centric and technologically innovative approach to undergraduate programme provision, equipping graduates with the skills and knowledge required to ensure they are capable of navigating the future challenges and disruptive technologies faced by the manufacturing sector in Ireland. In terms of structure, we have designed the framework to have three central pillars: eLearning, projects, and performance planning and review; all bracketed by innovations in pedagogies and technologies. We have modelled REEdI on a world-leading model of self-directed, project-centric learning developed by Charles Sturt University. Our novelty and additions include the use of Virtual Reality and Augmented reality (VR/AR) in supporting the education of student engineers along with student access to world class Science Foundation Ireland research centres (CONFIRM, LERO, and IMaR). This affords a wealth of advantages in undergraduate engineering education provision. It is also becoming increasingly important to involve employers in the development and provision of learning to ensure its relevance to the needs of the workplace. We have appointed Industry champions to a steering committee and industry are actively involved in curriculum design. Our approach aims to be positively disruptive and transformative, with a vision to set the agenda for engineering education nationally.