Outreach Group
Our Programme
SEOP (Systems Engineering Outreach Programme) has been created by IfSE to direct the engagement between the Systems Engineering profession via its members, with Industry, Academia and Government. The requirement is to raise the profile of the profession in the most effective way by enhancing the management of scarce volunteer resources.
Our Vision
Systems Engineering is acknowledged as the over-arching and cross-cutting technical discipline that binds together complex development of all sorts, alongside Project and Programme Management. It is recognised as a crucial element in tackling the increasing complexity of technical challenges, and a vital means of avoiding failure and controlling risk in development programmes of engineered product or process.
Systems Thinking allows engineers to make sense of complexity by looking holistically at the system situation (the bigger picture) and enables them to ask better questions to aid understanding of the relationships within it, rather than the more traditional ‘decompositional’ approach to breaking down a situation into directly addressable part-pieces.
Systems Engineering, once largely unknown outside the profession, is widely recognised as the key technical means to manage complexity, avoid or reduce risk of delays, over-spend and shortfalls in the outcomes from engineering projects.
Although its historic roots emanate from the complexity evident in large and complex engineering endeavours in defence and aerospace, the modern world now evolves faster, is more connected (with other systems and people), is more adaptive, and is more aware of issues such as sustainability, such that engineering solutions can generate complexity that demand Systems Engineering approaches.
Systems Engineers ensure wider business engagement with complex problems through bringing clarity and understanding of the key drivers and dependencies
As the need for System Engineers expands, especially in smaller organisations tackling such complexity, Outreach has become a cornerstone of professional activity within the discipline, to encourage more individuals and organisations, both large and small, to be included and recognised.
Our Activities
Outreach supports and sponsors the IfSE Diversity and Inclusivity Committee. IfSE is committed to broadening the demographics and backgrounds of people becoming Systems Engineers. The profession also gains from having people with different approaches to Systems Engineering, different experiences and context to draw upon, and form different ways of thinking.
Outreach also supports engagement of the profession with the next generation of Systems Engineers through supporting STEM activities, including through the Early Careers Forum. It is essential that the profession attracts more early careers individuals and informs and promotes Systems Engineering to the next generation. This can extend through to providing professional support such as mentoring when students are undertaking degrees and apprenticeships.
Outreach engages with the wider engineering profession in the UK and with Systems Engineering internationally. Engagement with the wider engineering profession in the UK includes participating in relevant activities with the Royal Academy of Engineering, Engineering Council, National Engineering Policy Committee, Skills England (and similar bodies elsewhere in the UK), Engineering UK and other ‘adjacent’ Professional Engineering Institutions (PEI) and professional bodies. Engagement internationally on Systems Engineering includes INCOSE and other affiliated national chapters such as AFIS and GfSE, together with international bodies interested in developing and promoting systems ideas.
As IfSE consolidates its position as the PEI for Systems Engineering within the UK it is anticipated that it will take a more proactive role in promoting systems concerns within the UK with HM Government and also in engaging with Government over matters of Systems Engineering policy. Outreach will support the IfSE President in such engagement.
Outreach also engages with academia to promote Systems Engineering education in the UK and also to support Systems Engineering research undertaken by universities, for example through finding relevant industrial partners and sponsors.
Finally, outreach is responsible for devising the Systems Engineering Assessed State-of-the-Nation (SEASON) Report that is produced every 5 years by IfSE. The SEASON Report serves as a stocktake of the health and capability of Systems Engineering in the UK. It also summarises the vision for UK Systems Engineering moving forwards.
Support in these activities is welcome and details of how you can best participate may be found on the volunteering page.