The University of Limerick (UL) is offering a novel way for experienced engineers to gain a doctorate by utilising the innovative and creative skills they already use in their day-to-day roles. Participation is 90% funded under the SOLAS generation apprenticeship scheme.

The Professional Doctorate in Engineering (PDEng) programme is a level 10 award (equivalent to PhD) focused on skills development.

Practical problems

Rather than traditional PhD research project which makes a contribution to the ‘body of knowledge’, the PDEng will focus on applying industry focused research to practical problems, formulating solutions to complex issues and designing effective professional practices within a particular field.

It will comprise of one or more commercially relevant projects, typically based on the candidate’s work environment and will require company sponsorship and an industry mentor to secure apprenticeship funding.

Professor Brian Fitzgerald, director of Lero, the Irish Software Research Centre, said: “Practitioners in Irish industry are often very advanced and to the forefront in implementing innovation in their companies nationally and globally. In many cases, this practice is capable of contributing to the state-of-the-art to such an extent that a Doctorate could be awarded.

Professor Brian Fitzgerald

“The traditional PhD, which is more academic focused and intended to produce researchers and academics, is not as suitable a path for industry-based candidates. Often these entry requirements of a 2.1 honours degree is not something that was available to all practitioners who may have less academic qualification but have more than made up for it in professional expertise.

"As a result, we created the PDEng programme which allows credit for this learning and is a very appropriate path to a Doctorate that is far more relevant to today’s environment of continuous professional development.”

Unlike the majority of apprenticeships, the Principal Engineer Doctoral apprenticeship is aimed at existing staff with experience of solving problems and delivering innovative solutions.

The value proposition for employers is that existing staff with expertise in key areas now have an opportunity to earn a doctoral qualification in the workplace without going back to university full time. Staff recognition, loyalty and retention are enhanced through the process.

The programme will also leverage the expertise and knowledge from Ireland’s best and forward-thinking SFI supported research centres, including Lero, the Irish Software Research Centre, and Confirm, the Smart Manufacturing Centre, which are based in UL. This will allow candidates to gain valuable experience and insight into leading-edge technologies and processes.

How does it work?

The programme has been devised by industry and developed by the University of Limerick. Candidates who wish to enter the programme must first pass attend a Qualifier Module, the next of which runs on January 14/15, 2021. As part of this module, candidates are required to submit a mini-thesis outlining their proposed research areas.

Candidates’ host organisations must also go through a vetting process that ensures that they have the scope of work required for the candidates to success in their studies and they are prepared to support the candidate through provision of an in-company mentor. Successful candidates and their host organisations are then invited to join the programme.

The programme itself consists of a combination of 12 taught modules along with the completion of a thesis based on a practical industry based problem. Candidates are supported both by their academic supervisor and their industry mentor throughout the doctorate. The PDEng will target and develop the skills of the relevant personnel in key sectors of the Irish economy. 

The Principal Engineer apprenticeship is a four-year blended doctoral programme which means; the research is directly related to activities in the company, focused on developing practice based knowledge; will bring academic rigour to product and process development projects.

It will enable candidates to do the following depending on the type of sector they are working in:

• Theoretical analysis, functional design and prototyping of capabilities which transform industry practice;
• Research new algorithms and techniques to improve automatic, self-aware, evolutionary systems;
• Design, develop, and execute research experiments/Proof of Concept and prototypes in an individual or collaborative team-based environment;
• Implement industry best practices and address gaps in state-of-the-art methodologies;
• Develop approaches for self-managing, learning and adaption at scale;
• Contribute to company intellectual property, evaluate patents for specific technology areas and participate in patent filings;
• Form strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Entry requirements

Minimum requirements for the programme are typically a 2.1 honours degree in a relevant area as well as five years’ experience. Applicants must also meet the University of Limerick English language requirements.

Programme managers would also facilitate recognition of prior learning (RPL) and would recognise candidates with a lower qualification provided they have relevant industrial experience. Research-based patents or peer-reviewed publications would also be recognised.

Programme cost

Fees have been set at 30% of the annual student contribution set by the government. For the years 2020/ 2021, this will be €900 p.a. – a significant saving for employers on standard PhD fees.

Under the July stimulus the government will make a once-off payment of €3,000 for any apprentice signed up before March 30, 2021. There has never been a better time to take the next step in terms of your education and your career.

For further information about the Principal Engineer Doctoral apprenticeship programme email apprenticeships@ul.ie. You can apply for the Qualifier Module here.

Conor McCarthy, director of Confirm, Smart Manufacturing

Conor McCarthy, director of Confirm, Smart Manufacturing, said: “Confirm Centre is delighted to support the Principal Engineer Doctoral Apprenticeship as it allows us to work directly with Industry personnel on their real world problems. This programme also allows us to open up our community of practice portfolio bringing academia and industry together to help support Ireland in its transformation to a digital manufacturing paradigm.”

Author: Philomena Kelly is a programme manager at the University of Limerick. She works for the Flexible Learning Centre in the Science and Engineering Faculty. Part of her role is the management of the suite of Industry 4.0 apprenticeships, including the Principal Engineer Doctorate.