King’s College London has appointed Professor Kawal Rhode as Head of Integrated Engineering Education,marking a notable step in the university’s drive to reshape how engineering is taught and applied in the 21st century. A leading figure in healthcare engineering and imaging sciences, Professor Rhode will oversee the growth and delivery of cross-disciplinary engineering education across King’s, strengthening links between academia, industry and the NHS. His appointment comes at a time when demand is growing for engineers equipped not only with technical expertise, but also with the skills to tackle complex societal challenges through innovation and collaboration.
Leadership transition at Kings as Professor Kawal Rhode takes helm of Integrated Engineering Education
Stepping into the role at a pivotal moment for engineering education, Professor Kawal Rhode brings a track record of educational innovation, cross-disciplinary collaboration and student-focused leadership to King’s College London. Widely recognised for his work in medical engineering and digital technologies, he is expected to sharpen the School’s focus on real-world impact and industry readiness. Under his guidance, Integrated Engineering students will see greater emphasis on project-based learning, data-driven design and ethical technology, aligning the curriculum with fast-evolving professional standards and global challenges. Early priorities include strengthening partnerships with NHS Trusts and tech companies, diversifying assessment methods, and amplifying student voice in curriculum design.
Colleagues and students can anticipate a leadership style that is collaborative, obvious and enterprising, with a clear intention to position King’s as a leading hub for integrated, practice-led engineering education in the UK and beyond. Planned initiatives span new interdisciplinary challenge modules, expanded internship routes and enhanced support for underrepresented groups entering engineering. Core focus areas include:
- Curriculum innovation with embedded AI, sustainability and health-tech themes
- Stronger industry networks for placements, mentoring and live briefs
- Inclusive pedagogy to widen participation and improve student experience
- Research-informed teaching connecting labs, clinics and classrooms
| Priority Area | Planned Outcome |
|---|---|
| Student Projects | More industry co-supervised capstones |
| Teaching Methods | Greater use of simulators and digital twins |
| Global Outlook | Joint design studios with international partners |
Advancing interdisciplinary learning through curriculum innovation and real world engineering challenges
Under Professor Rhode’s leadership, King’s is reshaping engineering education around complex, authentic problems that cut across traditional subject boundaries. Students will move fluidly between mechanical, electrical, biomedical and computing disciplines, working on projects that mirror the interconnected nature of modern industry and healthcare. This approach is reinforced by redesigned modules that foreground systems thinking, ethical awareness and digital fluency, enabling learners to understand how coding decisions influence hardware performance, how data science informs clinical devices, and how sustainability considerations must be embedded from concept through to deployment.
These curriculum changes are being brought to life through a series of structured, real-world challenges developed with industry, NHS partners and the King’s health ecosystem. Learners will prototype technologies that could be trialled in hospitals and communities, building professional skills alongside technical expertise.Key elements of this model include:
- Live briefs co-created with engineers, clinicians and technology partners
- Studio-style project spaces blending lab work, design and reflection
- Multi-year design pathways that return to the same societal challenge from new angles
- Integrated assessment where prototypes, data analysis and communication are evaluated together
| Year | Theme | Example Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foundations in Systems | Design a wearable sensor for daily activity tracking |
| 2 | Data & Devices | Build a low-cost diagnostic tool for community clinics |
| 3 | Health & Cities | Model and optimise traffic flows for emergency services |
| 4 | Global Impact | Co-create sustainable medical technology with partners overseas |
Strengthening industry partnerships to enhance student employability and cutting edge research impact
Under Professor Rhode’s leadership, the department is accelerating collaborations with global technology companies, NHS Trusts, start-ups and research-intensive industries to bring real-world innovation directly into the curriculum. Students will work alongside engineers, clinicians and entrepreneurs on live briefs that mirror the demands of modern engineering roles, from medical imaging and robotics to sustainable infrastructure and AI-enabled systems. These collaborations are designed not only to provide exposure but to embed professional experience at the core of every programme, with clear pathways into graduate roles, placements and research fellowships. Key initiatives include:
- Co-designed modules with industry experts to reflect emerging technologies and standards
- Long-term placements and internships integrated into degree structures
- Innovation sprints where students tackle real datasets and unsolved engineering problems
- Mentoring schemes pairing students with senior engineers and clinicians
- Joint labs and demonstrators showcasing prototype devices, software and workflows
| Partner Sector | Student Opportunity | Research Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Technology | Clinical engineering placements | AI-guided diagnostics |
| Digital & AI | Co-supervised projects | Trustworthy machine learning |
| Advanced Manufacturing | On-site design challenges | Robotics & automation |
| Urban Infrastructure | Field-based studios | Resilient smart cities |
These relationships will also amplify the reach of King’s engineering research, ensuring that breakthroughs translate more quickly into deployable technologies and policy influence. By jointly supervising doctoral candidates, sharing testbeds and data, and co-authoring publications with industry partners, academics will be able to validate their work in operational environments and accelerate impact. For students, this ecosystem means early exposure to cross-disciplinary teams and the expectations of professional practice, equipping graduates with the technical fluency, systems thinking and collaborative mindset required in a rapidly evolving engineering landscape.
Embedding digital skills inclusion and sustainability at the core of engineering education strategy
Under Professor Rhode’s leadership, the curriculum will be reshaped so that every learning pathway integrates data literacy, AI fluency and responsible innovation alongside core engineering science. Students will move seamlessly from theory to submission, working with real-world datasets, digital twins and cloud-based tools that reflect the technologies driving today’s industries. This shift is not limited to optional modules; it will be embedded in labs, design projects and assessments, ensuring that graduates can prototype, simulate and optimise solutions in digital environments before they reach the physical world.
Equally central is a commitment to equity, access and climate-conscious practice, so that technological progress does not deepen social divides or environmental harm. Learning experiences will be designed to be inclusive and globally relevant, with flexible formats and support that enable all students to participate fully in advanced digital work. Key priorities include:
- Inclusive digital labs that use open-source and low-cost platforms to reduce barriers to participation.
- Curriculum-wide sustainability metrics in project briefs, from energy use to lifecycle impact.
- Community and industry co-creation to address local environmental challenges with scalable digital solutions.
| Focus Area | Digital Dimension | Sustainability Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Design Studios | Simulation & AI tools | Fewer physical prototypes |
| Core Labs | Remote & virtual access | Lower travel and resource use |
| Capstone Projects | Real-time data analytics | Evidence-based green solutions |
In Summary
Professor Rhode’s appointment signals a decisive step in King’s College London’s drive to reshape engineering education around real-world impact, digital innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. As Integrated Engineering continues to grow in scale and ambition, his leadership will be central to equipping the next generation of engineers with the skills, insight and agility needed to tackle complex global challenges.
