The University of Birmingham and MTC Training have been awarded funding to design a new Degree Apprenticeship in Manufacturing Engineering.
The award, from the Office for Students, will enable the two organisations to collaboratively design a Level 6 qualification, with a particular focus on materials science and manufacturing. The content will be designed to give learners unique access to skills that will help them solve some of the most pressing challenges in manufacturing, such as recycling rare earth magnets, or developing sustainable aviation technologies.
Experts from the University and MTC Training will bring extensive experience and knowledge together to design and plan the new programme.
Professor Michael Grove, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education Policy and Academic Standards at the University of Birmingham said: “This programme will help enable us to build the skills and develop the knowledge that industry employers are indicating they need amongst the next generation of manufacturing engineers.
“Having a deeper understanding of materials technologies will help empower these future cohorts of engineers to develop effective solutions to key global technological challenges, providing interdisciplinary expertise that will be essential to the sector and the UK’s industrial growth.”
David Grailey, Managing Director at MTC Training added: “Harnessed in the right way, UK manufacturing will be a game-changer in maximising green economic opportunities. But to achieve this, manufacturers need people with both academic and practical knowledge to make high-performance products for burgeoning industries. By designing a new apprenticeship with the University of Birmingham, manufacturers will be able to access the skilled engineers they need to grow and flourish now and in the future.”
Both MTC Training and the University of Birmingham have strong track records of delivering apprenticeships, with the University currently offering 15 degree-level programmes, and MTC Training delivering seven programmes across levels 2, 3 and 4. Participation at both institutions has grown year on year.
As well as offering progression routes for students completing apprenticeships at Levels 3 and 4, the programme aims to increase equality of access at Level 6, opening up engineering career opportunities among currently underrepresented groups.
By targeting hard to reach groups, providing additional support and mentoring to learners and being flexible around entry requirements, programme leaders expect to increase participation among students from disadvantaged backgrounds or who have not followed a traditional academic learning path.
“There are very few organisations with the level of expertise in both materials science and manufacturing that could deliver a degree apprenticeship of this quality,” added Professor Grove. “We are excited about the opportunities to work with the MTC to make a positive impact on a significant skills gap within the manufacturing industry as a whole.”
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