Transport Technologies Sector

Academic Excellence

Birmingham and the West Midlands has a number of world-class universities, with a total of nine in the region. Most have gained international reputations for their quality of teaching and research and for their links and partnerships with major employers, including many overseas companies.

The universities have forged links with industry to provide world-class research facilities and to make a continual and significant contribution to the advancement of the industry.

Engineering and Technology students and graduates in Birmingham and the West Midlands

In 2001-2002, there were over 13,400 students within Engineering and Technology courses at universities within the West Midlands

In 2001-2002, there were almost 4,000 graduates from Engineering and Technology courses at universities within the West Midlands.

Source: Students in Higher Education Institutions 2001/02
Copyright: Higher Education Statistics Agency Ltd 2003

The Automotive Academy - helping the UK car industry compete with the world

Skills for the industry, benefits for the economy

Established in 2004, the Automotive Academy is the result of a unique partnership between the automotive industry, government, the education sector and training providers. Originating from the findings of the DTI’s Automotive Innovation and Growth Team, it was born out of a need to boost skills in the UK amid growing international competition.

It recognised that to remain competitive, Britain’s vehicle and component industry needs a highly skilled workforce committed to better working practices, the elimination of waste and the achievement of internationally acceptable levels of quality. It also recognised that to stay competitive everyone, from the shop floor to the boardroom and right across the supply chain needed to work together in a commitment to continuous improvement and skills enhancement.

Set to become the national centre for learning for people in the automotive industry, the Automotive Academy has its hub here in the West Midlands and a rapidly expanding network of regional spokes. It is committed to raising standards for everyone from new apprentices to boardroom director – and from major manufacturers to the smallest component suppliers in th supply chain.

Validation for success

The Automotive Academy isn’t a deliverer of courses; rather it sets a national curriculum and then brings together training and funding providers to give firms and individuals access to globally competitive skills development. In short, it’s a one-stop-shop.

But to make sure that these standards are always met, the Academy ensures that all course content and material, training providers and assessors meet its stringent validation criteria.

Dr Alan Begg, the Academy’s Chief Executive, said: “Our mission is to equip the automotive industry workforce in this country with training that will enable this key industry to be globally competitive. It must be industry-led, consistent throughout the country and both nationally and internationally recognised if is to do the job…to ensure we remain the best in the world.”

Courtesy Automotive Academy 2005

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