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º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is top for Mechanical Engineering

The University of º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is the top place to study Mechanical Engineering in the country, according to the new Guardian University league table.

The national newspaper’s University Guide for 2009 is and shows º£½ÇÖ±²¥ moved from second to first place in the ranking of British universities teaching Mechanical Engineering. Professor Graham Henderson, Vice-Chancellor said: ‘We are delighted with this reaffirmation of the excellence of our engineering programme, which is designed to produce graduates with the skills employers desperately need, in our region and across the UK and beyond.’

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ scored 10 out of 10 for Value added to students undertaking the degree and gained high marks for satisfaction with teaching and assessment on the course.

Professor Simon Hodgson, Professor of Advanced Materials and Dean of the School of Science & Technology, added: ‘We are proud to offer a programme which both offers development opportunities for upskilling existing technical staff and attracts students from around the world.’

Stan Higgins, chief executive of NEPIC, which represents the Process Industry (an industry that makes up a third of the whole North East industrial economy), welcomed the news, saying: ‘Our sector is a enormous user of engineering services and directly employs large numbers of engineering staff. We work closely with the University, and from our perspective it is easy to see the commitment and expertise in the staff and students. It’s great news that our local university has picked up this accolade and I hope that news like this, demonstrating local learning excellence, will help to put engineering at the forefront of the minds of school children and adults when they are thinking of choosing a truly rewarding subject and career.’

And Professor Cliff Hardcastle, the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) said: ‘Our region is one of the most important in the UK for the engineering, process and energy sectors and this recognition from The Guardian University Guide comes at the start of a new phase of investment and development of our engineering provision. Our aim is to enhance and consolidate our position as a leading and growing provider of engineering education internationally.’

Dr Paul Shelton, the subject’s Project Tutor for many years and now Assistant Dean (Education Partnerships and Opportunities) in the School of Science & Technology, explained why º£½ÇÖ±²¥ had done so well in the Mechanical Engineering league table. ‘Our course meets the specific needs of the local engineering supply chain companies, many of whom support the process industries in the Tees Valley and the wider North East region. But we also attract a number of sponsored overseas students from areas of the world such as the Gulf States.

‘Much of the project work within the course is industry based or aimed at solving real industry problem, and this is a major attraction, as is the fact that virtually all our graduates go on to have successful careers in the industry. And I would also pay tribute to a tremendous group of students, who are inspired and determined to make an impact in the engineering world,’ said Dr Shelton.

Paul Booth, President - SABIC UK Petrochemicals, also warmly welcomed this latest accolade. ‘The University of º£½ÇÖ±²¥ - and in particular its Vice Chancellor, Graham Henderson - are staunch and enthusiastic supporters of the 'Skills Agenda' we have been pursuing so vigorously here on º£½ÇÖ±²¥ and throughout the North East region. 

‘The university has worked hard with the processsing industry to improve the links between us through the establishment of Boards dedicated to listening to the requirements of both business and the local community.

‘This deserved recognition by the Guardian League Table is a wonderful achievement and another great step in the right direction.  º£½ÇÖ±²¥ should be proud that it has a university that is recognised as being the best in the country in terms of its Mechanical Engineering facility.’

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