Construction has begun on the new £32m Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, which is set to open in Coventry next September.
Dubbed as the UK’s first dedicated ‘faculty on the factory floor,’ the joint project between Coventry University and Unipart will provide manufacturing and R&D space for training over 40 undergraduates and post graduates in the first year.
Its aim is to develop the next generation of highly skilled, specialist engineers and operational leaders by providing students with direct access to Unipart’s operations, allowing them to work on ‘live’ issues in a real world manufacturing production environment.
All available courses have been shaped by figures from academia and industry, with a particular focus on design, metrology, manufacturing and mechanical systems.
To mark the ceremony, recently appointed institute director Dr Carl Perrin also announced a commitment to spend over £2m on robotic automation, forming, joining, analysis and simulation, metrology and product verification technology.
“AME is set to pioneer a new higher education model for manufacturing degrees, offering a blend of innovative activity-led teaching, product development and research to create a unique learning environment,” he said.
Dr Perrin, who was joined at the breaking of ground ceremony by Unipart manufacturing group managing director Carol Burke and John Latham, vice-chancellor of Coventry University, added: “Our dedicated facility is absolutely key to this and a lot of time has been taken in shaping the design and layout to ensure we create a world class manufacturing and engineering environment that inspires the next generation of engineers.”
