Leading systems engineering companies are turning to UCL Maths and Physical Sciences to tap into the latest training on how to manage complex projects.
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The drive to exploit the latest technology to tackle ever-more difficult problems means that delivering complex engineering projects on time and budget can be a major challenge.
This is especially true in the space sector due to the remote and hostile environment. Here, the complexity of systems, and nature of the development approach, make projects particularly susceptible to large cost and schedule overruns.
Projects at NASA, for example, are delivered with an average of 27.6% cost overrun and 13 months of schedule delay.
To address these challenges, a team from UCL’s Technology Management Group (TMG) has developed a portfolio of training courses in systems engineering and project management.
The courses draw on UCL’s thought leadership in space instrument developments and the latest research into systems engineering practice across space, transport, health and construction.
Major companies have chosen to upskill their teams with training from UCL’s experts. Industry clients have spent more than £5 million on the courses since 2013, equating to more than 7,000 trainee days at UCL.
Extending their training for industry, the TMG team has also developed master’s apprenticeship programmes for PA Consulting in Systems Engineering and Transformation Leadership.
Alongside this, UCL’s Professor Alan Smith, Professor Doug Cowper and Dr Ady James have contributed significant insights to help develop the Systems Engineering Competency Framework.
The framework was adopted worldwide by INCOSE in 2010. It continues to be used in the professional certification of systems engineers, and for career development and standardising systems engineering practice.
Major organisations that have used this framework include Thales, General Dynamics, BAE Systems, Atego, Bombardier and the Ministry of Defence.