ADVANCED MANUFACTURING DEGREE TO BE LAUNCHED BY MTC

The Manufacturing Technology Centre is launching a degree level programme to equip employees with high level manufacturing skills.

The Degree Apprenticeship in Product Design and Development will include a BEng (Hons) degree in Advanced Manufacturing. The four year course will be Apprenticeship Levy-funded, allowing students to get a degree while in full time paid employment, and without having to pay university fees.

The degree course, run in conjunction with Liverpool John Moore's University,

is aimed at  existing Level 3 qualified employees who want to develop their skills. It will be delivered at the MTC's state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre. Students will be based there at least one day every three weeks, with the remainder at their host employer.

The course, which will be four years depending on manufacturing experience, includes engineering principles, materials, design, manufacturing processes, system design, automation and advanced manufacturing technology. Students are assessed throughout the apprenticeship via exams, coursework, work-based projects and case studies.

Paul Rowlett, managing director of the AMTC, said the degree course had many advantages for students and employers.

"For the student it is a chance to get a respected degree while earning money and not getting into student debt," he said.

He added, "For the employer it allows them to maximise their Apprenticeship Levy to develop and support existing employees, developing sought-after high level skills. It represents a genuine return on investment, and the business will benefit from the enhanced skills available to them. In addition the course can be tailored to suit a particular employer's requirements."

Informative webinars explaining the degree course are being held at noon on the following dates:

Monday, December 10

Monday, December 17

Monday, January 7, and

Monday, January 14.

Anyone interested in finding out more or taking part in these webinars should contact Ian Buckingham, higher education programme manager, on 07976 316286 – ian.buckingham@the-mtc.org .

The MTC was founded by the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, the University of Nottingham and TWI Ltd. The MTC’s industrial members include some of the UK’s major global manufacturers.

The MTC aims to provide a competitive environment to bridge the gap between university-based research and the development of innovative manufacturing solutions, in line with the Government’s manufacturing strategy. The MTC is part the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.

Further information: Sarah Gilmour, Manufacturing Technology Centre,  

Issued on behalf of the Manufacturing Technology Centre by Ian Strachan Communications Ltd., 01543 490932

About the MTC

The MTC (Manufacturing Technology Centre) is established to prove innovative manufacturing processes and technologies in an agile environment in partnership with industry, academia and other institutions.  The MTC houses some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world, creating a high quality environment for the development and demonstration of new technologies on an industrial scale. This provides a unique opportunity for manufacturers to develop new and innovative processes and technologies.