British engineer and inventor James Dyson has launched a new engineering degree program where participants work for his company, Dyson, and learn on the job.
The four-year degree programme will be delivered at the newly launched Dyson Institute of Technology, based at Dyson’s Research and Development Campus in Wiltshire, in collaboration with the University of Warwick and its innovation department, WMG.
“The UK’s skills shortage is holding Dyson back as we look to increase the amount of technology we develop and export from the UK," said Dyson.
"We are taking matters into our own hands. The new degree course offers academic theory, a real-world job and salary, and access to experts in their field. I know there are many people out there who are as obsessive about engineering as I am - questioning every aspect of a product, how it works, and how it can be better. Therefore, why not get stuck into an engineering job straight from school?”
The degree programme will cover the fundamentals of engineering in years one and two, and delivers more specific electronics and mechanical content in years three and four. Students may also get the chance to spend time in Dyson’s technology and design centres in Singapore and Malaysia.
As well as providing the students with a full-time salaried job, Dyson will cover the costs of their tuition. The first cohort of 25 students is expected to start in September 2017
Chairman and founder of WMG Professor Lord Bhattacharyya said he welcomed the move by James Dyson to develop a pool of talent which have the skills that are required to work in industry today.
“It is vital that in order for UK companies to be competitive they must have the right people with the right skills," said Bhattacharyya.
British Universities Minister Jo Johnson also welcomed the announcement, saying, the government was currently trying to reform higher education in Britain to "ensure students can choose from a wider range of high-quality specialist institutions that can seek their own degree awarding powers and meet students’ diverse needs; providing employers with the skilled graduates that will drive future productivity and the economic prosperity of our country".
[Photo: WMG]
There will be a panel discussion on 'Developing our next generation of engineers' at the Australian Engineering Conference 2016 in Brisbane on November 23-25.