Pioneering UK engineering university celebrates first graduates

NMITE

AN ENGINEERING university in Hereford which teaches without the need for lectures or exams has celebrated the graduation of its first class of “work-ready” engineers.

The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) welcomed its inaugural cohort of students in 2021 and is now sending them off to some of the biggest engineering firms in the world – including Balfour Beatty, Kier and BAE Systems.

Yasmin Ali, a trustee of NMITE and IChemE member, said: “As a small institution for the time being, there is very much a family feeling at NMITE, where the academics know all the students by name and offer support.”

'Hands-on' studio learning

NMITE degrees teach students using real-world engineering projects provided alongside more than 80 industry partners including Heineken, Microsoft and local partners Hereford Contract Canning (HCC) Ltd.

Only recognised as an English higher education provider in 2020, the institute says it wants to “revolutionise” education through working in industry.

Ali explained: “The students are forced to tackle all aspects of an engineering problem – not just the technical side, but things like policy, and environmental and ethical issues that inevitably come with all engineering challenges.

“Because of the structure of the courses, the students work very hard to gain a master’s degree in three years.”

Undergraduate courses at NMITE include Construction Management and Integrated Engineering – which students can also do at master’s level. The institute also offers an MEng in Mechanical Engineering.

Student diversity

The institute says it is “committed” to equality of opportunity, offering a foundation year course for students to get familiar with the teaching and skills needed to study at NMITE.

Ali said: “In the selection process for students, NMITE does not insist on certain A-levels or educational routes.”

The first graduates came from diverse backgrounds or transferred from other universities and included Mahmoud Awad, a student from Syria who graduated with an MA in Integrated Engineering. : “By the end of your time at NMITE, you will have all the knowledge you need to solve a real engineering problem.” He has secured a job at construction firm Balfour Beatty.

NMITE has partnered with local industry in Herefordshire, with a number of graduates securing jobs in the region.

James Newby, CEO of NMITE, said: “NMITE was created to serve and support this region, not to ‘fix’ what is lacking, but to build on what is already great.”

The institute currently has just under 100 students. NIMITE says that applications have increased 77% since last year, and place offers by 90%, while female and local applications have skyrocketed by 175% and 96% respectively.