Mr Donald Edwards

Professional biography

I became a Staff Tutor with the Open University in 2016, having been an Associate Lecturer since 2004. As an Open University regional academic for postgraduate modules in the School of Engineering and Innovation I am responsible for supporting students and tutors on our postgraduate programmes.

I am a chartered engineer and member of the IMechE with experience across many industries as a Mechanical Design Engineering Consultant. I graduated from the University of Edinburgh in Mechanical Engineering in 1992 and completed my Masters in Engineering Design at Napier University the following year. Following a few years as a research associate investigating the use of evolution based computer methods for use in automotive simulation testing I moved to industry.

My time in industry my experience covered the breadth of engineering industries and products from small consumer products, through medical and aerospace products and automotive products from heavy off-road vehicles to electric vehicle battery packs.

Teaching interests

My background  in engineering design made extensive use of computers, my teaching interests covering computer use within engineering, such as CAD and finite element analysis. I firmly believe however that good fundamental engineering knowledge is essential to being a successful engineer so remain interested in teaching engineering during the initial formation years of their education and professional development.

Alongside my duties as a Staff Tutor, I am qualification lead for our Foundation Degree in Enginering (X11), our 'top-up' Honours Degree in Engineering (Q78), and our MSc in Engineering (F46).