Harper Adams receives share of £1.7m to start engineering conversion courses

Posted 21 March 2016

Harper Adams University is set to use a share of £1.7 million in Government funding to run two new engineering conversion courses. 

The new postgraduate courses, starting autumn 2016, will allow people with first-degrees in other subjects to transition to a career in engineering – an area of the UK economy where demand for skilled graduates is growing. 

A total of 28 projects, involving 32 universities and colleges, are set to share the £1.7million grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). 

The Harper Adams University conversion course projects 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: “This is a really exciting development. 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.

“These career opportunities, Government support for the courses, plus the introduction of student loans for Masters degree students, means there has never been a better time to make this move towards becoming an engineer.”

Evaluation of the scheme and the funded courses will take place over the next year while the courses are being delivered, and key lessons will be shared with the sector.

To register interest in taking an engineering conversion courses starting in September 2016, visit our postgraduate pages.