Towards the creation of a systems engineering culture

This paper reports on one aspect of an ongoing process to create and maintain a systems engineering culture within a major defence contractor (British Aerospace, Military Aircraft Division), taken from a `supplier´ perspective. The aspect addressed is the provision of university graduates who have internalised a systems engineering approach. In 1991 BAe approached Loughborough University with a proposal that they would sponsor a degree course and 40 students per annum if Loughborough could provide a Systems Engineering Master in Engineering programme of study. The perceived requirement was for graduates who could perform an integrating role within the company. The paper addresses the requirements of the company, the University and the students, indicates the approach taken to fulfil the requirements and assesses the success of the programme so far. The development and delivery of an appropriate educational programme was, itself, a major systems task and the paper also examines some of the issues associated with the approach adopted