Loughborough University's Wolfson School of Mechanical and
Manufacturing Engineering is set to support one of five new
Industrial Doctorate Centres that are being launched across the UK
to train the next wave of engineers for the automotive and
aerospace industries.
Universities and Science Minister David Willetts made the
announcement today during a visit to Loughborough University. The
Industrial Doctorate Centre is linked to the Manufacturing
Technology Centre at Ansty Park near Coventry and is a joint
project between Loughborough University, the University of
Nottingham and the University of Birmingham universities as well as
TWI Ltd, the operating division of The Welding Institute.
Professor Rob Parkin heads up the Wolfson School of Mechanical
and Manufacturing Engineering and he is looking forward to
welcoming the first students to use it this coming autumn. "It is
an exciting project and one that will further strengthen our ties
with industry. The Centre will mean that we can work with our
industrial partners on core research that they have identified
could be of benefit to their business. Some of the projects may be
mutually beneficial to a number of these partners while others will
specifically help just the one organisation.
"Loughborough University is well-placed to support the
Industrial Doctorate Centre with its strong track record of working
in partnership with industry. It highlights our commitment to
ensuring students are well equipped and trained for industry."
The project is being jointly funded by the Engineering and
Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) with 50 per cent of
funding coming from industrial partners to provide £1.2
million per centre.
Launching the new centres at the Loughborough University visit,
the Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, said:
"These new centres will generate a new wave of engineers with the
knowledge and skills to become future business leaders and create
new innovation and economic growth for the UK.
"They focus on key areas of advanced manufacturing, which are
vital to the UK's major industrial sectors including the aerospace
and automotive industry. These talented young innovators will help
fuel future economic growth for the UK."