Share of £1.7 million pot for Harper Adams University
Shropshire's Harper Adams University is set to share part of a £1.7 million Government grant to run two new engineering conversion courses.
The university will see the new postgraduate courses starting in the autumn and will allow people with first degrees in other subjects to transition to a career in engineering.
A total of 28 projects, involving 32 universities and colleges, are set to share the grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
The conversion course projects at the university in Edgmond, near Newport, are MSc Automotive Engineering (Off Highway); and MSc Agricultural Engineering (Mobile Machinery).
Chris Millward, HEFCE director for research, education and knowledge exchange, said: "Professional engineers and their skills are required throughout the economy, in a wide range of industries and in a variety of roles.
"It is widely accepted that it would benefit the economy to increase the supply of engineers.
"Engineering businesses face challenges in recruiting new engineers as new roles are created and the existing workforce retires.
"In particular, there is ever-growing demand for those trained in data science, cybersecurity, and software engineering. By supporting innovative course developments in universities and colleges, these awards will open up careers in these areas to a wider range of graduates, benefiting both students and employers in key sectors such as manufacturing, food and agri-tech, data science, and energy."
Alex Hardie, who is helping to launch the courses at Harper Adams, said: "The university has long-standing links with a range of engineering companies and our graduates are in high-demand. With the development of new agricultural technologies, including robotic farming, I have no doubt that students taking these conversion courses will find themselves with engaging, highly-rewarding careers."
