Congratulations to the incredible WMG Class of 2023.

On Wednesday (18th January), a total of 1,264 Master’s, Postgraduate, Research and Undergraduate students graduated from across WMG.

There was a total of 1,164 Master’s students, made up of 1,055 full-time students and 38 part-time students. There was a further 23 and 48 graduating on the Overseas Master’s full-time and part-time programmes respectively.

From the Undergraduate courses 85 apprentices graduated from the BEng Applied Engineering programme.

There was a further 15 students from the Postgraduate Research programme including one EngD and 14 PhDs.

Professor Gill Cooke, Pro-Dean (Education) at WMG, University of Warwick, said: “It’s always lovely to recognise the hard work and achievements of our students. The students graduating this week have all had parts of their education impacted by the pandemic, their resilience and commitment has been remarkable.

“Very well done to you all, and welcome to the Warwick alumni community.”

Find out more about WMG’s education programmes, here: Education (warwick.ac.uk)

WMG at the University of Warwick’s Widening Participation Co-ordinator, Dr Phil Jemmett, delivered important sustainability advice to Santa, at a special interactive Christmas Lecture.

De-carbonisation of the transport network is a key area for researchers at WMG, so it seemed only sensible to offer advice to Santa on a more sustainable approach.

Dr Jemmett explained: “With the population across the world increasing and carbon emissions in the air, we really need to help Santa become more environmentally friendly.

“We looked at different motor models including petrol, diesel and electric, and invited volunteers on to stage to play a game that demonstrates efficiency. We had a Team Petrol and Team Electric – each using a winch to lift stockings into the air for Santa to deliver, with Team Electric winning the race!”

Dr Jemmett, who was joined on stage by Chief Elf, WMG Engineering Technician, Bethany Haynes, presented to hundreds of children and families in December.

Claire Edwards, who was a guest at the lecture said: “I don’t come to the Christmas Lectures with a child, I bring my 84-year-old father who is a massive fan of the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures and enjoys Warwick’s just as much.”

Find out more about WMG’s Outreach work here.

The Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) at WMG, University of Warwick has successfully achieved two key ISO Management Systems Standards (MSS).

ISO Management Systems Standards set out requirements or guidance to help organisations manage policies and processes to achieve specific objectives and maintain high customer service. Each ISO has specific points of clarification.

The first MSS that the EIC was assessed against was ISO 9001 on Quality Management Systems. The audit covered the entire business operation within WMG’s battery research facilities, including the manufacture of battery cells and packs, testing of chemistries from degradation and performance through to full destructive testing.

The second standard ISO 14001 covers Environment Management Systems. This standard specifies the requirements for a sustainable management system that can be used to enhance environmental performance. This included a full assessment of how environmental risks are managed within the EIC.

The EIC was successful in achieving full certification of both standards.

Mark Amor-Segan, Chief Engineer based in the EIC at WMG, University of Warwick said: “We are one of the first university research groups to achieve this. This certification will align us with many of our industrial partners in terms of the fundamental principles of quality and environmental performance.

“Achieving this is a testament to the hard work from everyone within the EIC, and demonstrates our commitment to develop, implement and maintain an integrated quality and environmental management system (IMS) that meets the requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and our company, legal and other obligations.”

For a copy of the WMG Energy Innovation Centre IMS Combined Policy Statement contact: eic.support@warwick.ac.uk

The Energy Innovation Centre is a national facility, funded by the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC), for battery research across the R&D process from materials and electrochemistry through to application integration and recycling/re-use. The facilities support test, development and scale up of new battery chemistries from concept through to full proven traction batteries, produced in sufficient quantities for detailed industrial evaluation in target applications.

For more information or to arrange a tour of WMG’s facilities email wmgbusiness@warwick.ac.uk

The University of Warwick is delighted to announce that Assistant Professor of Engineering, Fatemeh Shahbazi, is among the first members of the new UK Young Academy – a network of early career researchers and professionals established to help tackle local and global issues and promote meaningful change.

As part of the first cohort of 67 members, announced today (10 Jan) by UK and Ireland National Academies, Fatemeh Shahbazi will have the opportunity to help shape the strategy and focus of this new organisation, based on areas that matter to them.

Along with their fellow members from across academia, charity organisations and the private sector, they will have the chance to inform local and global policy discussions, galvanising their skills, knowledge, and experience to find innovative solutions to the challenges facing societies now and in the future.

The UK Young Academy has been established as an interdisciplinary collaboration with prestigious national academies: the Academy of Medical Sciences, British Academy, Learned Society of Wales, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Irish Academy, Royal Society of Edinburgh, and the Royal Society. It joins the global initiative of Young Academies, with the UK Young Academy becoming the 50th to join the Young Academy movement.

Fatemeh Shahbazi, Assistant Professor in Engineering, said “I am honoured to be elected as one of the UK Young Academy members. Our main goal is to improve our world by contributing to decision making in the United Kingdom and globally.

I will be working towards the UN sustainable development goals, especially on health, wellbeing, and innovation. With the help of the Royal Society, I am very excited to bring leaders in this field together, hold special events and reach our goals faster.”
ENDS

Notes to Editors:

University of Warwick press office contact:

Bron Mills, Communications Officer: 07824540720. Email: bron.mills@warwick.ac.uk

Two WMG apprentices at the University of Warwick have been recognised at the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards. Parris Small was crowned overall Apprentice of the Year 2022, while Beverley Ngo was highly commended in the Engineering and Manufacturing Category.

Parris Small and Beverley Ngo are both in the fourth year of their BSc Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship, employed by Jaguar Land Rover.

The Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards, in partnership with Pearson, aim to showcase talent and diversity within multicultural communities through the celebration of those working hard to overcome adversity to achieve their goals through apprenticeships. These awards celebrate the achievements of apprentices, and the contribution of employers and learning providers who have assisted them along their journey.

The awards evening was hosted in Birmingham on Friday (4 November 2022), with 650 attendees celebrating the success of over 150 finalist apprentices, employers, and learning providers. The event culminated in a standing ovation for Apprentice of the Year 2022, Parris Small.

Parris says: “Winning this award was surreal, I wasn’t expecting it! As a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, I am very grateful for awards like these, it was so nice to be in a room full of people that you can relate to and can understand you as a person. I am very proud of this achievement and it has put me in a position to be able to make a difference; I want to be an ambassador for STEM, technology and apprenticeships. I can now say that doing an apprenticeship is an opportunity to succeed, to win awards, and to go to new places. I can’t thank the awards team and judges enough for this recognition that I will appreciate forever.”

Parris’ passion for diversity and inclusion extends to her involvement in the REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) Network at Jaguar Land Rover, where she is one of the Events Leads with Beverley Ngo, helping to ensure everyone within the company is recognised, represented, and celebrated.

This year has been full of success for Parris and Beverley, as they were also recognised in the Autocar Great Women 2022 Awards in the Apprentice Category, Parris received Highly Commended Regional Winner of the National Apprenticeships Awards 2022, and also won the Apprentice Category of the Midlands Women In Tech Awards 2022.

WMG Associate Professor and Course Lead for the BSc Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship programme, Dr Alaa Al Sebae adds: “We are delighted that two of our apprentices have been recognised at the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards. They are great role models for others, highlighting the talent and diversity in apprenticeships. We are looking forward to hearing more about their achievements as they look towards the end of their Degree Apprenticeships and the rest of their careers in STEM.”

Find out more about WMG’s Degree Apprenticeships here: Degree Apprenticeships : WMG, University of Warwick

The WMG Outreach team made some special STEM Christmas deliveries to children across the West Midlands and Warwickshire, in collaboration with the High Value Manufacturing Catapult’s Inspiring Young Engineers project.

This year a total of 100 festive STEM parcels were delivered to young engineers at primary schools, local special educational needs centres and the Hospital Education Service.

Two different resource boxes were produced. The first focused on ‘flat-pack manufacturing’ with the children tasked to make 3D Christmas decorations. The second introduced the young engineers to ‘paper engineering’, challenging them to produce pop-up Christmas cards.

Dr Phil Jemmett, Widening Participation Co-ordinator, at WMG University of Warwick, explains: 

“We started off in 2019 with just 30 boxes, and have gradually increased numbers - even throughout lockdown. We prioritise schools who meet our widening participation categories and strategies, so this project has a positive societal impact.

“These resource boxes have been a lot of fun to produce. It’s become a bit of a festive occasion for our Outreach Team putting the boxes together. We pop the Christmas music on and enjoy a mince pie or two. It’s lovely to see the photos and hear from the teachers and families who use the resources. I hope the boxes have as much impact on the students using the resources as they have on the staff making them.” 

Jacqui Pote, Year 6 Teacher at Welford-on-Avon Primary School said: “The children loved being part of a project from the University of Warwick; some of them said they would like to study there. As science lead at the school, I loved showing the children different jobs that scientists/engineers were doing. They loved the pre-printed resources to have a go at. Thank you so much! Look forward to doing it again next year!” 

Professor Margaret Low, Director of Outreach and Widening Participation, at WMG University of Warwick, added: “It’s great that we are again able to share these activities with our local schools and community groups. These resource boxes help to raise awareness of the range of activities that can be described as engineering, and engage young people in creative engineering activities."

All of the resources are also available online for free here: WMG outreach - primary schools - flat pack resource box (warwick.ac.uk) and here: WMG Outreach - Primary School Resource Box - Paper Engineering (warwick.ac.uk)

The MSc in International Trade, Strategy, Operations (ITSO) course, at WMG, the University of Warwick, is collaborating with a series of key industrial partners to launch a new company-based dissertation for its students.

The new dissertation option was presented to students, at a special launch event, by WMG’s ITSO Course Director, Dr Di Li. At the event, Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Strategy at WMG, Alok Choudhary spoke about the company-based dissertation projects with Supply Chain in Practice (SCiP) members. The students also heard from Assistant CEO at Rexville Solutions, Ms Shu Jia, on behalf of the industrial collaborative companies, who shared more details about current projects available this year.

The company-based projects are collaborative dissertations which allow students to work on real-life challenges facing industry. It provides another option for students when selecting their dissertation, and in turn helps to develop key skills and employment capabilities, whilst helping organisations to resolve their challenges via systematic research.

Ms Shu Jia, the CEO Assistant of Rexville Solutions, explains: “The company-based project is a great opportunity for our company to cooperate with WMG, and the talented students there, to employ the innovative methodologies for solving our practical problems. We are also very happy, and proud to provide opportunities and real data to the students to support their successes in academic studies and further careers.”

ITSO Master’s student Yawen Zheng comments: “I think the company-based project is a great opportunity for me as it enables me to engage in practical problem solutions in a real company, which must be a competitive experience when finding a job.”

ITSO student course representative, Danara Aldabergenova, says: “The launch event was very useful for postgraduates to clarify their dissertation projects. The company-based MSc project is an additional option for writing a dissertation, which differs from the conventional project. With the company-based MSc project, we will be able to understand the workflow and try ourselves in the real work area.”

Find out more about WMG’s International Trade, Strategy and Operations Master’s Programme here: MSc International Trade, Strategy and Operations | University of Warwick

If you represent a company who is interested in finding out more on company-based MSc projects, please email WMG’s Assistant Professor and ITSO Course Director, Dr Di Li, here: d.li@warwick.ac.uk.

· Nine bursaries awarded through Lord Bhattacharyya Engineering Education Programme to increase number of engineers from underrepresented groups

· Awardees formally announced at a celebration event on Thursday 8 December at the University of Warwick.

- Nine bursaries awarded through the Lord Bhattacharyya Engineering Education Programme to increase the number of engineers from under represented groups.

Nine outstanding engineering students from the West Midlands have each been awarded a prestigious £15,000 bursary by the Royal Academy of Engineering to support their studies.

The bursaries, each worth £5000 a year for three years, have been awarded to students from underrepresented groups across the region who are progressing from A Levels or technical engineering qualifications to degree-level engineering courses in the 2022/23 academic year.

This year saw the highest number of applications submitted for the programme since its launch in March 2020. Following a competitive application process consisting of a written application and a panel interview, the nine awardees are:

· Aboulashif Riyaj Ahamed, studying aeronautical engineering at De Montfort University

· Casey Kuda Burke, studying civil engineering at the University of Salford

· Gurmandar Singh Loha, studying aerospace engineering at Coventry University

· Faith-Brian Mbahwum, studying mechanical engineering at Aston University

· Louie O’Sullivan, studying mechanical engineering at Birmingham City University

· Poya Sahak, studying aircraft maintenance engineering at Solihull College & University Centre

· Gopikrishna Santhuruban, studying aerospace engineering at Brunel University

· Dylendra Sooryamuyah, studying Meng Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bath

· Rahul Verma, studying electrical/electronic engineering at the University of Leeds

These substantial bursaries form part of the wider Lord Bhattacharyya Engineering Education Programme, led by the Royal Academy of Engineering in close partnership with WMG founded at the University of Warwick in 1980 by the late Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya Kt CBE FREng FRS. The programme is funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The awardees were announced at a celebration event for the Lord Bhattacharyya Engineering Education Programme on Thursday 8 December at the University of Warwick.

The programme provides a comprehensive support package to a network of secondary schools and FE colleges across the West Midlands, with the aim of upskilling teachers and inspiring young people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), before supporting their progression into further and higher education and into engineering careers. The event on 8 December will be the first time since the programme’s launch that schools and colleges participating in the programme have been able to meet together in person to showcase their achievements over the past two academic years. The new cohort of bursary students will be able to meet previous awardees, as well as share their success with former teachers and inspire newer students attending on the day. They will also have a valuable chance to meet representatives from locally based engineering companies that are supporting the programme and learn more about future employment opportunities.

Dr Rhys Morgan, Director of Engineering and Education at the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “I am so impressed with these latest bursary winners. The engineering profession needs the creativity and innovation of a more diverse workforce and engineering businesses in the West Midlands know this as well as any in the UK. I am delighted that the Royal Academy of Engineering is helping to forge vital links between local companies and the talent they need now and in the future in order to thrive and to contribute to a vibrant regional economy and national prosperity.”

Professor Robin Clark, Dean of WMG, University of Warwick, said: “Engineering is such an exciting sector and very much in need of talented individuals. Now in its third year, the bursary scheme continues Professor Lord Bhattacharyya’s legacy in education, expanding the commitment to making engineering accessible for all. I would like to extend my congratulations to the winners of this year’s bursary and wish them well in their studies.”

Applications for the fourth round of Lord Bhattacharyya Higher Education Bursaries will open in March 2023, for students enrolling at university in September 2023.

Notes for editors

1. More information about the nine awardees can be found here.

2. The Lord Bhattacharyya HE Bursary Scheme helps students at sixth forms, colleges and academies across the West Midlands prepare for degree-level engineering education. The funding available provides students from low-income households or under-represented communities with a pathway to higher education and therefore encourages the pursuit of careers in the sector. The Scheme not only drives diversity and inclusion throughout the engineering sector, but also ensures that talented students are equipped with the resources needed to develop the latest engineering skills required to access degree-level programmes and ultimately thrive in a fast-paced sector with lots of opportunities.

3. WMG, University of Warwick, is a world leading research and education group, transforming organisations and driving innovation through a unique combination of collaborative research and development, and pioneering education programmes.
As an international role model for successful partnerships between academia and the private and public sectors, WMG develops advancements nationally and globally, in applied science, technology and engineering, to deliver real impact to economic growth, society and the environment.
WMG’s education programmes focus on lifelong learning of the brightest talent, from the WMG Academies for Young Engineers, degree apprenticeships, undergraduate and postgraduate, through to professional programmes.
An academic department of the University of Warwick, and a centre for the HVM Catapult, WMG was founded by the late Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya in 1980 to help reinvigorate UK manufacturing and improve competitiveness through innovation and skills development.

• Time-consuming and resource-intensive charging processes could be replaced by wireless charging for e-scooter rental fleets

• The ease of use for consumers and a reduction in operating costs through wider adoption of this technology would be a big advantage for the UK’s biggest rental scheme operator, Voi
• Trial in partnership with Bumblebee Power and WMG on the University of Warwick campus allows real-world testing in a ‘mini-city’ environment
• A successful trial will pave the way for seamless and convenient charging of e-scooters

Voi Technology, the UK’s largest e-scooter rental operator, has partnered with Bumblebee Power and WMG to trial the use of Bumblebee’s wireless e-scooter charging at the University of Warwick campus over a 6-month period potentially changing the future of the micromobility industry.

As with the charging of electric cars, the charging of e-scooters is a challenge for the operators of extensive rental schemes. The batteries powering their zero-emissions e-scooters are currently charged safely at their warehouse; however, they are replaced when vehicles are either receiving their regular in-house inspections or by the company’s in-field team who visit each e-scooter to perform fresh battery swaps.

These processes can lead to high operating costs for their business as the processes can be both time-consuming and often resource-intensive by requiring additional warehouse infrastructure for safe battery charging as well as transportation costs. Therefore, Voi began exploring new charging methodologies as a result that could provide the same excellent user experience whilst also delivering a similar vehicle efficient and effective battery performance. The potential solution: wireless charging.

In partnership with Bumblebee Power, the wireless charging pads make it possible to charge e-scooters where they are parked, reducing not only operational costs but make their integration into the street and transport infrastructure more streamlined, making the modal shift to a convenient and flexible mode of transport easier for new and existing riders.

The University of Warwick campus ‘mini-city’ environment has been selected for this trial and provides an excellent, safe test bed for testing transport innovations. Available to estate staff only, a busy environment with a large population of students, staff, and industrial partners means the University of Warwick is an ideal ‘living lab’ environment to enable sustainable research and development of this technology.

The trial will provide data on the wireless system performance as well as user behaviour and interaction with the technology, which is crucial to any future large-scale deployment. If the trial proves successful it could be expanded to cover more of the Voi fleet across the UK.

David Yates, CTO of Bumblebee Power explains:
“The Bumblebee patented technology, which originated from Imperial College London, provides automatic connection via a very efficient wireless charging system, saving operational expenditure for the fleet operator by eliminating battery swaps. In addition, it makes possible the ability to extend the battery’s life, by controlling the charging regime whilst maximising vehicle availability.”

Sam Pooke, Senior Policy Manager at Voi UK and Ireland, said:
“We’re delighted to be partnering with Bumblebee Power to develop wireless charging for our e-scooters, an innovation that could change the whole micromobility industry.

“Applying this technology has the potential to not only reduce the operational impact of how we charge batteries for our vehicles but also in making an already convenient and flexible service even more accessible for new and existing riders. Over the coming months, we’ll look forward to working with our partners to maximise the innovative potential of this technology.”

David Evans, Lead Engineer at WMG, University of Warwick, said:
“Wireless charging technology for micromobility has the potential to reduce operational costs for fleet operators and provide a convenient charging solution for users. The University of Warwick campus is an ideal location to trial transport innovations such as these, providing a real world, mini city environment with world class teaching and research facilities.”

According to recent reports, the UK needs around 800,000 more technicians and apprentices to meet the demand in the economy for the sort of practical science jobs to boost innovation and economic growth. This is why WMG, University of Warwick, is supporting the Gatsby Charitable Foundation’s Technicians: We Make the Difference campaign.

Technicians are making a difference across society, doing exciting and interesting jobs in almost all industries; from making a life-saving vaccine to working behind the scenes at a music festival. It's their balance of scientific, engineering, or technological knowledge, along with skills such as attention to detail and critical thinking, that makes technicians special.

WMG employs more than 50 technicians, including Engineering Technician, Bethany Haynes and Battery Technician, Divyesh Mistry who feature as case studies on Gatsby’s new Technicians: We Make the Difference website.

You can hear more from Bethany here: Bethany Haynes, Engineering Manufacturing Technician | Technicians and Divyesh here: Divyesh Mistry, Battery Technician | Technicians as they share their experiences with the aim to inspire more young people to consider technical careers.

Bethany Haynes, Engineering Technician based in WMG, at the University of Warwick’s SME Team, says: “This is such an amazing project to be a part of as it is so important for young people to be aware of the technical roles out there. I love the fact that there is a technical role that will harness and encourage the majority of skillsets, especially practical skills. I have always been a technician and genuinely love my job, yet at school I was always told I needed to go to university and have a degree to have a good job.

“Technicians: We Make the Difference shows that you can have a career with or without a degree. I’m looking forward to visiting the Science Museum next weekend and seeing all the cool things other technicians are doing.”

Divyesh Mistry, Mechanical Technician based at WMG at the University of Warwick’s Energy Innovation Centre, adds: “It was a privilege and an honour to take part in the Gatsby project. Each technician has their own skills and abilities, which allow for fundamentals of their profession to thrive. It’s great to see the technician career path be advertised, and I recommend it as a fulfilling career with lots of opportunities.”

 Paul Johnson, Technical Services Manager at WMG explains: “It’s great to see our technical staff involved in this crucial initiative. I say crucial because the skill shortage, that we now see across the educational and research landscape, has to be addressed now. To do that we need to engage the next generation of technicians, and those young people that we reach out to need to be inspired. Hearing from early career technical professionals, through outreach programmes such as this, can only help to galvanise the desire that young technicians have and drive them to pursue a career in science and technology.”

Research by Gatsby shows that while parents are becoming more supportive of technical education routes and qualifications, such as T-Levels, many (40%) still don’t understand what a technician is. Furthermore, two thirds (66%) say their child has expressed an interest in a future career that they know very little about.

Together with Gatsby, WMG wants to help parents and young people learn more about technician careers options and routes available (many of which young people can reach via T-levels, apprenticeships and other more practical, work-based routes).

Find out more about WMG’s Technician Commitment here: Technician Commitment (warwick.ac.uk)

ENDS

For more information on Gatsby’s Technicians: We Make the Difference campaign, please contact technicians@kindredagency.com.

Sources:

· Parents and young people survey – A survey, carried out by Censuswide, of 2,004 parents of children aged 11-16, and their children. The survey was conducted between 27th July – 1st August 2022.

· Parents survey – A survey carried out by Censuswide of 2,000 parents of 11–18-year-olds who attend non-fee-paying schools. The survey was carried out in March 2022.

About Technicians: We Make the Difference

Technicians: We Make the Difference is a campaign by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation that aims to educate parents and young people alike on technician careers.

While some technicians work in a lab, most don't. Technicians are making a difference across society, doing exciting and interesting jobs in almost all industries.

It's their balance of scientific, engineering, or technological knowledge with skills like attention to detail and critical thinking that makes technicians special. That can be almost anything - from making a life-saving vaccine to working behind the scenes at a music festival.

And with thousands of other interesting technician roles across almost every kind of industry - there's a good chance that there will be one out there that you would enjoy.

Find about more about how technicians make a difference every day via www.technicians.org.uk.