University engineers new manufacturing course

The degree level course, entitled BEng (Hons) Manufacturing Engineering, is an employer-sponsored degree developed with the industry for the benefit of both employers and employees alike.

The course will give businesses within the sector the chance to up-skill their workforce, giving their employees a career-enhancing qualification in an area designed to address specific skills demanded by the company.

Allowing employees to gain a full Bachelor degree in just two years, the qualification is ideal for ambitious and highly motivated individuals such as recent apprentices who want to further their education, or mature staff wishing to improve their career prospects.

The University collaborated with a number of high-profile partners including UTC Aerospace Systems, Caparo Tube Components, and Moog Aircraft Group in the development of the course.

Sponsored employees will attend the University for 45 weeks each year, attending every Friday, and for 12 Saturdays each year, while spending four days a week in the workplace supported by a workplace supervisor.

Employees will gain direct experience in using the University’s comprehensive advanced manufacturing facilities, providing them with practical skills to complement their learning and increasing their effectiveness in the workplace.

Speaking about the course, the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Oakes, said: “We have listened to local companies and developed this programme to meet their demand for manufacturing knowledge and skills.

“Employers gain a staff member with higher-level skills who can aid the long-term performance of their company, whilst employees benefit from a career-enhancing qualification.

“The programme represents an excellent investment of time and money by both the company and the individual.”

Fee subsidies of up to 50% may be available to companies through the Black Country Skills Factory project, an employer-led project supported by government funding whose aim is to address the skills shortages in the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) sector in the Black Country, the only scheme of this kind across the UK to focus specifically on the HVM sector.

To find out more about the BEng (Hons) Manufacturing Engineering course, visitwww.wlv.ac.uk/beng or phone Maria Cumming on 01902 321402

ENDS

For more information please contact Chris Jones in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736

Date Issued: Monday, January 27, 2014