New engineering degree developed by Dyson at Warwick University

Sir James Dyson has launched a plan to create a new university to tackle the lack of engineering graduates in the UK. The degrees will initially be awarded by the University of Warwick.

As a result, the £15 million Dyson Institute of Technology will be offered at Dyson’s campus in Malmesbury in Wiltshire, and the four-year engineering degree is being offered in partnership with the University of Warwick. Students will be taught by University of Warwick academics once a week.

Sir James Dyson argues that the UK needs another one million engineers with skills in software, hardware and electronics by 2020 because there has been skill shortages in engineering for many years. He hopes that eventually the company will be able to award its own degree, and that the institution can be renamed as Dyson University.

The first intake sees 25 students joining, with the course offering ‘academic theory, a real-world job and salary, and access to experts in their field.’

Lord Bhattacharyya, chairman of the Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick, said he wanted to help “develop a pool of talent” with the Dyson partnership.

Universities Minister Jo Johnson added: “Few organisations embody the spirit of great British invention quite like Dyson – constantly pushing at the boundaries of innovation, and home to some of the world’s best engineers.

“The Dyson Institute of Technology will not only offer students the chance to study on cutting edge degree level programmes, it will also play a vital role in educating the next generation of much needed engineers.”