Could New Academy Help Solve Skills Crisis?
It seems as if hardly a week goes by without another story bemoaning the lack of qualified engineers moving through the ranks of college or university and into the industry. In a bid to do something positive and proactive, a new initiative called the E3 Academy has been launched today combining the resources of business and academia. Richard Scott reports from the London press launch.
The E3 Academy is an IET endorsed sponsorship programme for students applying to study for degrees at the Schools of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Universities of Nottingham or Newcastle. Students who are accepted as part of the Academy will enjoy a substantial support package during their years of study and beyond. The package includes an annual bursary of £2,500, reimbursement of tuition fees after graduation, and perhaps most importantly of all, employment with one of the Academy partner companies.
The courses available through the E3 Academy will allow students to study electrical engineering, control and automation in many key UK industry sectors ranging from aerospace, automotive, marine, industrial manufacturing, renewable energies, process and utility industries.
The start up E3 Academy partners are GE Aviation, Converteam, Siemens, Cummins, Control Techniques and Parker SSD. At the press launch in London today, Bob Owen of Siemens was keen to stress the importance of other companies within the engineering industry coming on board to help make the Academy work.
As has been pointed out countless times, the industry is struggling to attract A level students studying the sciences into engineering courses, so it is vital to make the option as attractive as possible. It is hoped the relationship the Academy has with industry names such as those currently partnering will provide the necessary carrot to potential students.
At the press conference, the speakers made it clear they see the Academy not as a 'cure all' concept but a step towards helping improve the situation. So what do you think? Email epa@imlgroup.co.uk with your thoughts.
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