Ian joined West Suffolk College in 2010, lecturing in Computing and Engineering. He is proud of helping get the Engineering BA accredited, despite obstacles at the time. This course has thrived over the year, and he has met many people in industry who went through or are going through this pathway. Ian has returned to industry and completed his PhD.
What made you join Eastern Education Group?
I started as a lecturer for the School of Computing in 2010. I left to move back into industry in 2016. I completed a PGCE at the College and started a PhD in Management (completed the PhD after having left the College).
During my tenure, I undertook a variety of roles from lecturing within both the Schools of Computing and Engineering. I was Course Director for the Engineering degree pathways (taking over from Dr Huw Fox) and designed/accredited the BEng (Hons) pathways before Suffolk was awarded TDAP. The accreditation was through the UEA. For a brief period of time, I also undertook the role of STEM Manager, and helped the College achieve the accreditation of ‘STEM Assured’.
I joined out of interest and desire to teach, and to put something back into the community. The roles also provided me the ability to stay local to my family (having been in the Armed Forces, this wasn’t always normal) and support my son’s cancer recovery.
Do you have any special memories from your time with us?
I remember sitting and waiting in the College conservatory for the accreditation decision on the BEng (Hons) pathways. Somebody came over and suggested that nobody would ever want that degree. My colleagues felt passionate that Suffolk needed an Engineering degree option for regional students, and that whilst we were far from the most well-equipped, we could use our experience and knowledge to bring something to the county. It was great feeling to win the accreditation and start the delivery of the small course. I still have former students on LinkedIn with me. Some went on to great jobs and technical leadership roles in places like Siemens, McLaren, DBD International, AstraZeneca, and SpaceX. It’s been so rewarding to happen to be among people in the local industry and hear that they are or had been studying the pathway that me and the team designed and created.
Are there any family members or friends who have connections to EEG?
A few friends still left there. Mostly connections that have retired or moved on.
What did you go onto to do after College?
Having started a PhD in Management, researching mechanisms for organisational culture change to support Lean, I moved into the global automotive sector in order to carry out fieldwork within a relevant management role. My research contributed to significant fiscal impact for the company, who at the time made one third of all the car seat sets across the world.
Since then, I’ve worked within the global research and technology sector as a principal professional and coach in programme and project management. I have created entire project management frameworks and taught over 300 world class scientists in the discipline of project management. I’ve also delivered complex projects and research programmes that have supported nationally significant UK infrastructure and defence. Clients have included Rolls Royce, BAe, Leonardo, BMW, Volvo, Airbus, UK Space Agency, and ESA.
Is there a message you would like to share as we celebrate our 100 years of history?
It’s so important to know where we’ve come from in order to better understand where we need to go.
Lastly, do you have any advice for future students and staff at EEG?
Never underestimate the potential of a small group of people to change the world; it’s the only thing that ever has.
