Main News Desk

Thales’ innovator to visit Loughborough as professor in integrated systems design

February 09, 2007

Paul Davies, Head of Innovation at Thales UK’s Aerospace division, has been appointed as Visiting Professor in Integrated Systems Design at Loughborough University. The three-year post is supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) as part of its ‘Vision for the Future’ programme.

Professor Davies’ role is to promote the importance of systems engineering in large-scale engineering projects, teaching core skills that will be vital as they join multi-disciplinary teams in industry. With this appointment, the RAEng and Thales are seeking to address the gap between skills taught in traditional discipline-specific engineering courses and the needs of the workplace.

“Preparing the next generation of engineers for the world of work is a privilege and a challenge,” said Professor Davies. “The approach to systems engineering required in industry is often at odds with what’s been taught on traditional single-disciplinary courses. Being able to bring real-world experiences to the students at Loughborough is an excellent way to equip them with the skills required to work on integrated systems projects in a variety of industries. Loughborough already has a lead on this in the UK, and I am delighted that Thales and I can help to improve its position still further.”

Professor Davies is teaching both postgraduates and undergraduates on a part-time basis, as well as mentoring Masters degree projects, reviewing the curriculum, and providing strategic advice on the penetration of systems engineering in various sectors.

Professor Davies, who was formerly UK Chapter President of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), brings systems engineering expertise and insight in not just the aerospace sector, but also in areas such as transport and energy from working with INCOSE.

“The support of Thales for our programme will make an enormous difference to the students,” said Yiannis Vardaxoglou, Head of the Electronic and Electrical Engineering Department and Professor of Wireless Communication at Loughborough University. “With Paul as part of the team, our students will benefit from his wealth of knowledge regarding the theory and practice of systems engineering.”

Alex Dorrian, Chief Executive at Thales UK – himself a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering – said: “Industry is vital to the future of the UK and systems engineers are vital to the future of UK industry. Thales is therefore delighted to support this Royal Academy of Engineering programme, and we wish Paul every success in his role at Loughborough.”

Executive quote

Alex Dorrian, Chief Executive at Thales UK – himself a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering – said: “Industry is vital to the future of the UK and systems engineers are vital to the future of UK industry. Thales is therefore delighted to support this Royal Academy of Engineering programme, and we wish Paul every success in his role at Loughborough.”

Customer quote

“The support of Thales for our programme will make an enormous difference to the students,” said Yiannis Vardaxoglou, Head of the Electronic and Electrical Engineering Department and Professor of Wireless Communication at Loughborough University. “With Paul as part of the team, our students will benefit from his wealth of knowledge regarding the theory and practice of systems engineering.”

About the company

Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, addressing defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide. Thales’ leading-edge technology is supported by 22,000 R&D engineers who offer a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy field-proven mission-critical information systems. To this end, the group’s civil and military businesses develop in parallel and share a common base of technologies to serve a single objective: the security of people, property and nations.

The group builds its growth on its unique multi-domestic strategy based on trusted partnerships with national customers and market players, while leveraging its global expertise to support local technology and industrial development. Thales employs 68,000 people in 50 countries with forecast 2007 revenues in excess of € 12 billion.

Thales UK employs 9,000 staff, based at more than 50 locations in the UK. In 2006 Thales UK's revenues were over £1 billion. At a Group level, Thales employs 70,000 people worldwide in 50 countries and generated revenues of £7 billion in 2006, with a record order book of over £14 billion.

Contact details

For further Thales information contact: Marcel Kay at LEWIS Email: Marcelk@lewispr.com Web: www.lewispr.com
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7802 2626
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7802 2627

For further information contact:
Karen Thomas, Thales UK
Tel. 01293 644772
Mob. 07968 570642
karen.thomas@uk.thalesgroup.com

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