T HTEH U E NUI N V IEVRESR IT S IYT O Y FO O F POPPOPROTR UTNUI N T IYT Y A UNIVERSITY THAT MEANS BUSINESS
SUMMER 2017
KNOWLEDGE NEWS Engineering confidence in manufacturing growth A DEDICATED MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING CONFERENCE HOSTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON OFFERED MIDLANDS BUSINESSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NATIONAL AGENDA FOR GROWTH IN THE INDUSTRY. Manufacturing Conference 2017, held in March at Telford Innovation Campus, saw leading manufacturing and engineering business figures discuss issues that impact on the region’s industry. Individuals from Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Virgin Rail and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) covered topics including skills, globalisation and innovation, as well as research and development. The special event also marked the completion of £10 million worth of investment in engineering facilities at the Telford Campus (see sidebar), home to the University’s School of Engineering.
Speakers and workshop leaders at the conference included Dr Clive Hickman (MTC), who has over 35 years' engineering experience in the automotive industry. He was joined by David Danger (UTC Aerospace), Rachel Eade (Red Ltd), Graham Jones (JLR), Ninder Johal (Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership), Tony Collins (former CEO of Virgin Rail), Dr Russell Bromley (The Way Ahead Business Centre Ltd), John Yates (Engineering Integrity Society) and Jake Godfrey (Institute of Engineering and Technology). To keep up-to-date with developments in the University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, including upcoming events, visit:
wlv.ac.uk/engineering
Chancellor, Lord Paul, unveils the new F3 car
£10M ENGINEERING FACILITIES UNVEILED Attendees at the Manufacturing Conference 2017 were given a first glimpse of the £10 million investment in advanced engineering facilities at Telford Innovation Campus. Immediately following the conference, visitors were treated to a tour of the new facilities at the official opening which was from the Chancellor of the University, Lord Swraj Paul. £100,000 flight and track simulators and new workshops with three car bays, in support of the University of Wolverhampton Racing Team, were among the specialist facilities showcased. The newly designed Formula 3 race car was also unveiled by the University’s Racing Team students ahead of the race season, which started in April. Since this strategic investment, the School of Engineering has seen a 20% overall increase in applications across the portfolio of eight specialist subject areas, with students still able to apply for a September start. The level of growth, including an increase of 25% in applications for the flagship Motorsport Engineering course and a huge 60% for Automotive Engineering, puts the School in prime position to double the number of high quality graduates provided to the region’s engineering industry by 2020.
Professor Nazira Karodia welcomes delegates to the conference
Professor Ian Oakes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor said: “By investing £10 million in advanced new engineering facilities and courses, we’re providing our students with everything they need to make their mark in industry whilst at the same time helping to strengthen the region’s engineering infrastructure.”