Changing our structure so we can do more

World-leading education and research is at the core of what we do in the Faculty of Engineering. We want to grow and strengthen our research, develop our progressive and enriched educational offerings, and strengthen our routes for fresh innovation and fruitful partnerships. In order to do this, and to better support our ambitions for the future, we need to change our internal structure.

Our new structure comprises four academic schools, launching in August 2023.

School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering

Head of School – Professor Simon Neild
School Manager - Lesley Barry

Leading on innovation in sustainability, resilience and performance, to address the climate emergency and achieve net zero. Focus on: Materials, infrastructure, mobility, and the environment.

School of Computer Science

Head of School – Professor Mike Fraser
School Manager - Liz Heal

Leading and capitalising on the diversity of computer science and informatics and their ties to users, applications, and other disciplines. Focus on: Computer science, AI, Vision and informatics.

School of Electrical, Electronic, and Mechanical Engineering

Head of School – Professor Aydin Nassehi
School Manager - Evan Roberts

Leading on innovation and developing knowledge capitalising on the links across mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering. Focus on: Whole life cycle manufacture, energy and communications.

School of Engineering Maths and Technology

Head of School – Professor Anthony Mulholland
School Manager - Jan Farmery

Leading and capitalising on mathematical approaches to a diversity of topics within and beyond engineering. Focus on: AI/data science, life and health science, robotics and mathematics for engineering.

What’s changed?

Our core business of Engineering research and education remains the same - but the way we're set up will be changing.

After years of consultation and planning, we’re moving from two to four schools. As part of this, we’re removing departments to help reduce bureaucracy and enable the schools to be more responsive and allow quicker decision making.

This will give us a forward-looking organisational structure to ensure our success for years to come.

Why?

The new University Vision and Strategy gives us all a clear goal: for Bristol to be firmly established among the world’s top 50 greatest research-intensive universities, and in the top 10 in the UK. We are committed to playing our full part in this crucial and exciting work.

This means building on our faculty’s achievements and ensuring we can continue to carry out innovative and meaningful research that makes a difference; and at the same time, opening up more doors for our students to pursue fulfilling, exceptional and sometimes unexpected career journeys.

This new structure and way of working will help us continue to develop our ambitions against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world. Engineering, in all its forms, will play a key role in addressing the global opportunities and challenges with which we’re all familiar.

We believe that these four schools are now the right size and shape, with taught programmes clearly aligned and Research Groups associated with each school.