The times they are a-changin’
Following your interesting article about science and women (327), you may like to know about our new university in Hereford. It’s called the New Model in Engineering & Technology (NMiTE) and will employ a radical approach to technical education. We are committed to an equal gender ratio and to help achieve this we are not insisting on the standard STEM A levels. We believe that anyone with appropriate academic ability, grit, passion and determination can become an engineer with the right training.
We have conducted extensive research in schools to determine what inhibits pupils, particularly girls, from becoming engineers. When we asked female pupils what sprang to mind for the word “engineer”, the typical reply was, “male, overalls, greasy and usually under a car or piece of machinery”. You are correct in saying that there needs to be a total mindset change at the preGCSE stage in schools. NMiTE is supported by the University of Warwick, which is expected to award our degrees until we receive a Royal Charter. Tuition will be in small groups working on practical, employer-led projects. There will be no formal lectures, but faculty will instruct students in the application of theory to actual real-life issues.
The 46-week term will enable students to obtain a Master’s degree in three years.
Our first design cohort of 25 students is already hard at work, under a provost and initial faculty. A further 50 will join next October and in 2020 the first full intake of 300 will start.
This is the first wholly new university in the UK in over 40 years and we hope it will transform engineering education. Rod Barker, Founder Trustee NMiTE, via email
Interesting concept. We’ll have to keep an eye on your progress!
– Daniel Bennett, editor