Keele in £1.7 million project to develop new engineering conversion course.
Our successful bid builds on our internationally-leading reputation in biomedical and environmental engineering, and in particular our longstanding expertise in medical devices...
Keele University is participating in a £1.7 million project sponsored by HEFCE to develop an innovative engineering conversion course. Demand for graduates in engineering, data science, cybersecurity, and software engineering is growing in the economy. Providing graduates in other subjects with the opportunity to study and work in these areas will allow them to develop their careers, and increase the supply of skilled practitioners.
Keele is utilising its expertise in Medical Devices and its links with the University Hospital of North Midlands Trust to create an MSc targeted at creating the next generation of Medical Device Designers. The course, MSc in Medical Engineering Design, will provide a range of opportunities for graduates across England to convert to engineering design, while undertaking study delivered in a variety of different models. Keele has been awarded£50,000 from HEFCE to develop the new Masters course.
Peter Ogrodnik, of the Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine, is leading the initiative on behalf of Keele: “This is a great opportunity for Staffordshire and the Stoke on Trent area. For a long time this area’s expertise in medical devices and biomedical engineering have been at the forefront of patient care. This new programme will enable new students to be trained to meet the burgeoning demand for engineers but also allow the area’s industries to be included in the growth.”
Not only will the new course cater for full time students, but those in work can study this new award either as a part-time student or by distance learning. Peter added: “This innovative award not only produces new engineers, it will also upskill existing staff in the region’s industries. Any company working within engineering design could send its staff on this award and take them to the next level of design competence.”
"Companies can also participate by supplying placement or internship opportunities, furthermore the students will be conducting design led projects as their thesis, we would welcome industry to come forward with project ideas that could enable them to move a product, service or process forward."
Professor Mark Ormerod, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at Keele, comments: “We are delighted by the success of our bid to this important HEFCE initiative aimed at developing engineering conversion courses for graduates from other disciplines. Our successful bid builds on our internationally-leading reputation in biomedical and environmental engineering, and in particular our longstanding expertise in medical devices and our strong links with the University Hospital of North Midlands.”