How many EngDs?

We were contacted last week by a journalist who wanted some basic background about the EngD qualification ("when was the qualification launched, how many people are studying for them (or have already qualified), how many IDC specialist centres are there...").

When and where?

The first question was easy. The EngD was launched in 1992 - in fact, the AEngD launch last November marked the 20th anniversary of the qualification - though the infrastructure of research centres took a while to establish.

The third question wasn't too hard either. There are currently around 28 or 29 UK industrial doctorate centres. Why "around"? Well, one centre at Oxford University does things differently and awards a DPhil instead of an EngD, so we think it's 29 in total, with 28 IDCs delivering EngD graduates.

How many?

The second question, though, was perhaps the hardest to answer accurately.

We know from the EPSRC's own review in March 2007 that "some 1230" Research Engineers (REs) had been enrolled (sponsored by over 510 different companies), but more up-to-date information isn't easily available.

We can't just extrapolate forward from 2007, as the number of IDCs soon grew from the initial five, with five added in 1997, and more in 2001 and 2006. By 2007, there were 22 IDCs, and the EngD landscape has continued to grow and constantly change, with REs being recruited throughout the year, not just for autumn admission. Also, enrolment figures may over-estimate the number of completed EngDs; we need to account for attrition (REs who, for whatever reason, don't complete their research) before we can give an accurate estimate of the number of EngDs awarded.

When EPSRC chairman Paul Golby (right) spoke at the AEngD launch he said approximately 1400 EngD students had been trained (presentation available here). Total EngD enrolments will be higher than this, of course: scores of REs are currently engaged on their research, and others will have dropped out. Could total enrolments now be around the 2000 mark?

The AEngD and EPSRC are undertaking some research (with Manchester Business School) to look at the impacts of the EngD programme and from this we hope to get a more accurate picture of the overall success of the qualification.

Meanwhile, some centres are approaching significant landmarks. We understand the Manchester-based Nuclear Engineering IDC, founded in 1992, originally more focused on manufacturing, now more specialised, and spanning eight institutions, is now approaching its 200th graduate. More recently-formed IDCs - such as Reading's TSBE - will deliver their first EngD graduates in 2013, while others, newer still, are just recruiting their first cohort.