Mirna Ayoubi's Poster Presentation at the MEGS XMAS Conference 2012

1. Midlands Energy Graduate School– Knowledge Transfer
Mirna Ayoubi, Dr Andrea Wheeler, Dr Paul Rowley
Who are MEGS?
The Midlands Energy Graduate School (MEGS) is
Methodology
a collaboration between the University of Birming- 1. A literature review on the research published on this topic. CPD Packages
ham, Loughborough University and the University The taxonomy and ontology of professions in the supply Continued Professional Development is additional train-
of Nottingham combining their capabilities for en- chain were studied. Many reports discussed the roles of ing offered to individuals, graduates, employers and
ergy related research and teaching. MEGS will SMEs in the industry but not many analysed the roles of staff to enhance any skills they may already possess.
help meet the growing demand in the UK for more professions in the built environment. From the chart shown on the right, it is visible that nearly
highly trained low carbon technologies research- half the participants in the research have taken part in
2. Create a database of contacts that matched the criteria
ers. CPD training. This gave us an insight into the present
3. Produce a questionnaire to find out the company’s needs, training needs of the community we were
AIMS of Project difficulties, roles and responsibilities of the interviewee and working with as well as their willingness
The research project MEGS-KT aims to provide a any online documents they accessed. This information to participate with us so we can provide
learning framework and the structure for a com- would give us a general idea of how the company inter- those training opportunities for them.
munity of practice. It will bring together existing acted in the supply chain and any gaps they in their
ICT tools in a mosaic approach to provide high knowledge if any. More detailed interviews with those will- Some Quotes…
quality content managed by a self-regulating ing to participate, also work-shadowing some companies.
-An Architect comments after attending the launch of a pro-
community, intelligent about content. The project 4. Hold workshops to allow the community to input into the gramme; ‘It was full of DIY enthusiasts’.
will provide the pattern for an e-learning environ-
platform that needed to be built. Creating tools and tech- -A company Director explains; ‘there was a massive gap be-
ment appropriate for the energy section and for
niques allowing them to network. tween the training requirements and the competency requirements
the delivery of CPD.
5. Engage the community to obtain feedback on the final out- for renewable energy engineers and renewable engineers‘.
put of the project (form of a website). -‘Because we’re not MC registered, then all the work goes to
From our interviews and Questionnaires this is the re-
sponse achieved from asking ‘Will the Green deal those who are.’ says a Company Director of a renewable en-
Which SMEs to use for our research? ergy technology installer in his interview.
affect the way your company works?’
Professions that have Participated
Yes Lead Engineer
Operations
6% 6% Deputy Director
12%
No
Business
Hard to say at this
Development
stage Director
29% Managining
If Implemented in Director
Commecial sector 23%
effect will be small Course Coordinator
6% domestic energy
Associate assessor Technical
6% 6% Consultant
6%