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A perfect partnership

A long-running partnership between º£½ÇÖ±²¥ and Darlington-based engineering firm Cummins is now helping a recent graduate to make his mark - both professionally and academically.

Barry Moore, who graduated with a BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, is now working at Cummins as part of a short Knowledge Transfer Partnership (sKTP). He is also completing his PhD at º£½ÇÖ±²¥, with on-going support from Cummins. Cummins, who manufacture, supply and service engines and related technologies, has previously collaborated with the University on student and graduate placement projects and there are plans to continue working together on future projects.

Barry, who lives in Marske-by-the-Sea, is relishing the opportunity he has been given to put his knowledge into practice at Cummins, while also studying towards his PhD part time.

He said: 'It is demanding, but it is thanks to the links between the University and the company that people like me are able to develop.

'The sKTP scheme has been a fantastic opportunity to really engage with an exciting project and being able to study my PhD at the same time is really going to benefit me.'

KTP and sKTP schemes are a business-University partnership, aimed at improving productivity and performance through a strategic project. The company gets access to academic skills and expertise, along with a graduate recruited specially to work on the project.

Barry, 32, is working with Cummins to improve its engine painting processes, which is also the core subject of Barry’s PhD.

The company expects to benefit in a number of ways from the project, including cost and time savings and improved processes which ultimately will lead to better customer service.

Manufacturing Engineering Manager Steve Morley, who is Barry’s sponsor during his time at Cummins, said: 'So far it has been a really successful collaboration. Barry has brought in a new set of skills and ideas which we didn’t have before.

'We are always keen to collaborate with local schools, colleges and universities and the long-running partnership with º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is proving to be extremely successful for all concerned.'

Vahid Askari, a Senior Lecturer in Engineering/Automotive Design at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is the academic supporting Barry’s sKTP at Cummins.

He said: 'Working with industry allows us to better prepare our students to enter the industrial workforce and the success helps us to forge further collaborations with industry.'

Barry added: 'The whole experience – studying at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ through to working at Cummins – has been extremely positive and the sKTP scheme has been a great way to help me get started in industry.'

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