For the final role play exercise of the Michaelmas term, the cohort were set the task of proposing policies to advance the sustainable development of the UK through the automotive industry.
The students canvassed expert views from the automotive industry through presentations and subsequent cross examination. Working in political parties, the group evaluated the evidence gathered and developed a set of policies based on their party world view.
The party representatives then came together as part of the fictional All Party Parliamentary Group for Sustainable Development, to negotiate a shared position which would advance sustainable development but also be likely to gather the support of their colleagues.
The exercise aimed to give students the experience of an inquiry-like process, collecting evidence, cross examining witnesses, developing a policy position and negotiating a consensus. This provided an insight into the challenges which emerge at the intersection of engineering, business, policy and the political.