Type of site E-learning | Commercial Non-profit | |
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Available in English, Spanish, Chinese (traditional & simplified), Korean, Russian, German Owner World Steel Association Created by World Steel Association, MATTER , University of Liverpool Website | ||
steeluniversity is a collection of free-to-use E-learning resources and interactive simulations covering major aspects of iron and steelmaking. It provides the underlying scientific, metallurgical and engineering principles and environmental aspects of the production, use and recycling of steel. These internet-delivered resources are aimed at undergraduate students of metallurgy, materials science and engineering subjects as well as graduate employees in the steel industry supply chain.
Contents
Objectives
The basic objective of steeluniversity.org is to inform university students and their teachers about steel technologies and to attract young people to the global steel industry. Another major aim is to reduce the cost of in-service training at steel companies by providing them with freely available training and professional development material. In view of the decline in metallurgy-related courses in universities and the retirement of professors and steel industry experts, it aims to sustain knowledge of ferrous metallurgy by joint efforts of academia and the steel industry.
Background
A gradual decline in the number of students enrolling in science subjects such as physics and mathematics can be seen in many industrialized countries. This phenomenon has been indicated in several studies. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Science Forum reports in a study that the relative share of science and technology graduates declined in 10 out of 16 member countries between 1993-2003. Metallurgy is one of the most affected disciplines in this trend in terms of available courses, overall enrolments and the number of graduates. An important factor relating to this change in US universities is described as transformation in the late twentieth century of metallurgy departments into ‘material sciences’ departments. A similar pattern in other Western European countries e.g. in the UK is reported during the same time span. Steel industry, once an attractive career destination for metallurgy graduates is directly affected by these changes and now faces the challenge of replacing the retiring work force. The idea of preserving knowledge of metallurgy and attracting young people towards career in the steel industry was born out of this challenge.
History
In response to the declining skilled workforce in the steel industry, the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) took the initiative by creating a collection of web-based E-learning resources on metallurgy in a pilot project named Internet Learning of Steel Applications and Processes (ILSAP). Initially two introductory modules; Secondary Steelmaking and Steel for Automotive Applications were launched in partnership with the MATTER project at the University of Liverpool on 1 August 2002 Following the success of the pilot project, the IISI board of governors approved a budget of €2.5 million for development of an extensive set of E-learning resources and the project was renamed steeluniversity.org in October 2003.
Available languages
The e-learning modules were initially only available in English. Currently, several modules can be found in different languages such as Spanish, Chinese (traditional & simplified), Korean, Russian and German. The process of translation is not yet complete and a number of modules are in various stages of proof reading.
steelChallenge
The steelChallenge is an annual competition organized by steeluniversity.org for students and steel industry employees. Using one or more of the steelmaking simulations on the steeluniversity.org website, the entrants are to produce a particular steel grade at the lowest cost. The competition runs for a 24-hour period during which multiple attempts are allowed. Awards are given for the best, one for the best industry entry and the other for the best university entry. Other local prizes sponsored by steel companies are also presented at the event.
Awards
Steeluniversity.org has received two awards for contribution towards e-learning of science and technology:
- European Academic Software Award – 2004
- AIST Benjamin F. Fairless Award – 2008 (USA)
The website was among the finalists of the Royal Academy of Engineering awards – 2006 (UK).