COVERFEATURE
NMITE: RE-ENGINEERING THE WORLD OF STUDY AND WORK NMITE is shaping the future of engineering with its flagship accelerated Master’s in Integrated Engineering (MEng) course – a first in the UK. It’s also championing a whole new set of skills for our next-generation workforce. The dream has been a long time in the making, but NMITE (New Model Institute for Technology & Engineering) finally opened the doors of its Hereford campus last September. It all began back in 2009 when NMITE’s team of academic and industry experts sat down with one shared vision in mind: to redesign the world of engineering education and create a pioneering generation of work-ready engineers. The result is NMITE’s Integrated Engineering Undergraduate Master’s Degree (MEng), which is unique for a whole host of reasons. Course spokesman Matt Brown explains: “It was time to tear up stereotypical ways of thinking. The team spent years working on the curriculum, researching best practices in engineering education around the world. “Above all, they recognised that theory-based learning wasn’t meeting the needs of today’s industry. The focus is now on helping students reach their full potential by combining engineering disciplines with an emphasis on practical skills and real-world learning environments. “This means communication, encouraging students to make decisions, think laterally and solve problems. It’s about resilience and having the confidence to meet complex challenges head-on.” NMITE’s pioneering approach means there are no lecture halls on campus. Students work in small teams in engineering studios designed to mirror a working environment, and employers set real-life challenges with sprints concentrated on concepts and themes to help them understand real-world issues. The accelerated learning programme ensures undergraduates can complete their degree in just three years, with no traditional exams at the end – instead, each student has a personal learning portfolio with assessments from each learning module, which can be used to demonstrate their real-world experience to
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potential employers after graduation. The NMITE course is also the only one in the UK which doesn’t require designated Maths or Physics A-Levels. “It’s a way to encourage more diverse applications, and broaden participation”, Matt points out. “Our students work on the maths and science capabilities they will need to apply in industry, rather than having to gain specific qualifications beforehand, which can put a lot of people off.” More about the MEng course at nmite.ac.uk/study
HEREFORDSHIRE SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE PROJECT Local small businesses have long voiced concerns about skills shortages and filling job vacancies. Increasing automation and technological advances are only accelerating these challenges – which is why NMITE is working hard to bridge the gap between academia and business. Communication, leadership, listening and day to day interactions in the workplace are already part and parcel of NMITE’s MEng degree. Now these skills are being championed more widely through partnerships with local schools, businesses and education providers. Matt explains: “When talking to local businesses initially, we got a lot of feedback about their chronic skills shortages. This applies to all sectors, from engineering to farming, and it’s a really pressing issue.
encourages creative thinking and professional behaviour. In essence, it’s about developing the next generation of entrepreneurs.” Joint-funded by the European Social Fund and NMITE, Herefordshire Skills for the Future has three aims: Help SMEs and microbusinesses in the region identify gaps and opportunities in their labour market skills, focusing on ‘soft’ rather than technical skills Link these businesses up with schools, colleges and further education centres to build skills awareness through courses and workshops Encourage youngsters to develop enterprise skills and grow their own businesses. For youngsters, this means carrying out meaningful work experience placements. They are also invited to workshops to raise awareness of entrepreneurship as a career choice. SMEs can take advantage of networking events, skills audits to identify skills gaps and create action plans, and partnerships with education providers to promote skills needed for the future. Find out more about the Herefordshire Skills for the Future project at nmite.ac.uk/herefordshire-skills-future.
“Our project is a way of helping to future-proof the local economy. It
May/June 2022
