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International energy summer school starts today

18 June 2007

Top engineering students from the University of Texas, Austin, start today at UCL's international cross-disciplinary energy summer school.

Wind turbines

For the second year running, undergraduates from the American university are spending six weeks at UCL to learn about leadership and management in the energy sector.

Staff from UCL Engineering, UCL Laws, the UCL Bartlett are amongst the departments teaching management, architecture, law and other fields as they relate to the energy industry. In addition, high-ranking executives energy companies such as Shell and Gazprom are leading sessions.

Energy professionals are attending the summer school for the first time. Full-time engineers undertaking continuing professional development at the Siberian Federal University, Russia are taking modules on energy, English for industry, environmental science, geomatics and management as part of a two-week programme sponsored by the British Council.

The summer school is organised by Mr Marco Federighi, Sub-Dean of UCL Engineering Sciences, and Dr Anna Clark of UCL Business PLC.

"The summer school aims to give the most promising engineering students worldwide the chance to gain an insight into how business is conducted in the real world, and provide them with the skills to excel at it," said Mr Federighi.

The real-life approach is reflected in the teaching methods: no textbooks or notes are provided. Students instead must learn to digest the one-hour lectures for themselves, writing executive summaries immediately after each one. Assessment is by oral exam only. According to Mr Federighi, last year's students found the school highly challenging - but highly rewarding.

"It's not for the faint-hearted: it's a highly competitive environment with a lively atmosphere of debate," he said. "Three of last year's engineering students have already applied for the masters to be launched in 2008, and four are now in impressive positions in top companies."

An interdisciplinary design summer school along similar lines is planned for 2008. It is hoped it will involve leading Italian design institutions and will take place at UCL and in Milan.

To find out more, contact Marco Federighi.