NMITE, the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering, was formally launched on 1 December after receiving validation by The Open University.
This enables the new university, based in Hereford, to start recruiting students and it is inviting applications for the 50 places in its “pioneer cohort”. Successful applicants will be the first graduates of NMITE’s master’s degree in Integrated Engineering in just over three years’ time. The 50 students will have their academic fees and accommodation costs covered in full for their first year thanks to the institute’s Pioneer Funders.
NMITE is seeking to address the UK’s shortage of work-ready graduate engineers. Its integrated programme is designed to produce graduates ready to tackle global challenges such as sustainable food production, access to safe water, and clean energy, which do not fall neatly into traditional engineering disciplines.
It will adopt a “learning by doing”, project-based approach to training, without conventional lectures and exams, aiming to develop “graduates who will make a positive impact on quality of life, the environment and industry”.
NMiTE says it is looking for “entrepreneurial and socially-minded individuals who want to change the world for the better”. To attract students from a variety of backgrounds it says it will consider every application “irrespective of the path they have travelled to get where they are today”. Maths and Physics A-Levels will not be required because these subjects will be taught as part of the curriculum.
Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcon, president and chief executive of NMITE said: “What 2020 has shown more than ever is that we need more work-ready engineers, and we are delighted that NMITE will be playing a role in educating engineers equipped to tackle global challenges.”
NMITE is supported by engineering businesses, the Herefordshire community, Herefordshire Council, Olin College of Engineering in the US, professional engineering bodies and the government, which awarded up to £23m in initial funding.