The modern world is complex and highly interconnected, and is enabled through complex systems and enterprises comprising people, information, processes and technology. The Centre for Systems and Technology Management creates, utilises and promotes analysis, modelling, systems thinking and other systems methodologies in order to better address the design, development and management of socio-technical systems. We excel at taking an interdisciplinary perspective to deliver solutions to address industry, government and society’s needs and problems.
These needs create complex problems that require the practical application of systems thinking to address them – a mode of thought that emphasises the connections between and across different disciplines. We’re well established in solving these complex problems, with an academic pedigree that stretches back to 1999 when we were founded to identify, explore and solve systems engineering problems for the defence sector. Today, we apply these skills, developed in support of defence and security, to systems such as healthcare, transportation, energy generation and, of course, we still heavily support defence and security.
Our goal is to promote and develop systems thinking and other systems methodologies to better solve modern systems problems involving a combination of people, technology and organisations, situated in their environment.
Who we are
We are the one of the UK’s leading centres for research and education across a range of systems and technology management areas including:
- Systems engineering
- Systems modelling
- Technology management
- Systems thinking
- Systems engineering management
- System acquisition
- Enterprise engineering
- Through-life management of complex capabilities
What we do
We deliver world-class and research-led teaching with award-bearing offerings at postgraduate level, and bespoke short courses for a range of national and international clients including the UK Ministry of Defence, Airbus, Ocado, Rolls-Royce and Network Rail. Our students are taught by skilled academics, many of whom have extensive personal experience as systems engineering and technology management practitioners in industry, government and the military across the UK and internationally. As systems engineering and technology management are leading edge and constantly evolving subject domains, we ensure that our teaching always reflects the latest thinking and approaches, whilst being built on the well-established foundations of the disciplines.
Aligned to our education provision are our research and consultancy activities. We tackle real-world problems and issues that impact society across the world, from analysing and optimising major multi-billion pound projects and programmes, addressing some of the most wide ranging and high impact issues that face the world, such as climate change, globalisation, resilience and the impact of autonomy and AI, through to addressing everyday support and logistic concerns. We pride ourselves on the deep understanding we have of our international clientele’s problems and providing them with tailored solutions across education, consultancy and research.
We offer the following opportunities for study:
- MSc in Systems Engineering
- MSc in Systems Engineering and Systems Engineering Degree Apprenticeship (offered under Apprenticeship Levy funding)
- Research degrees
Our people
Our staff have an unrivalled mix of experience spanning national and international industry, government, the military and academia.
Enquiries
For enquiries about our education offerings please contact Mrs Bronwen Holden, our Flexible Education Coordinator, via email on b.a.holden@cranfield.ac.uk.
For research and consultancy queries, please feel free to contact the relevant academic directly using the links below or for more general research and consultancy enquiries, contact the Head of Centre, Sean Price, on sean.price@cranfield.ac.uk.
