Dyson launches Engineering university. Will pay you to do degree.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malmesbury though :indiff:

Original post by jneill

Dyson Institute of Technology will offer an Engineering degree and will start with 25 students in Sept 2017.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-37834857
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/11/04/dyson-blows-a-breath-of-fresh-air-into-education-by-starting-its/
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/04/james-dyson-addresses-engineering-skills-gap-with-university-launch

Not only is it free to study, in fact you earn £15k a year.

Would you consider applying?

NB. The degree is actually awarded by Warwick initially, but he's applying for the institute become a full university.

(PRSOM to @ageshallnot)

Link to the institute: https://www.dysoninstitute.com

When "they" say that there is an engineering skills gap, that does not mean that there aren't enough engineering graduates being produced. Every year, huge amounts of students are graduating with engineering degrees, but without many of what could be classed as key skills and knowledge required to work as an engineer in industry, or even an understanding of what engineers actually do... but there almost definitely is not a shortage of people graduating with engineering degrees.

I don't know enough about the specifics of this university to comment on whether I would apply there (or would have if I didn't already have an engineering degree).

However I do think that to go down the route of industry established universities might be missing a step: namely, better collaboration between industry and academia. There is a worry about the lack of engineering skills in academia. A lot of people teaching engineering degrees and deciding the content have never worked as engineers in industry. This isn't a slight on them; it's the way universities work, being primarily research institutions, with teaching being thrust upon researchers. But this probably is not the best way to teach engineering.

I think the engineering profession itself, and its institutes, have failed in the oversight of education. Establishing a new university (which might be) operated by engineers for future engineers might be a good idea, but trying to fix what we've already got might be a better one.

Reply 3

Edulcorante

10

I think it's a great idea. I wouldn't have a chance there as I have more of a humanities bias but I think we need more engineers for the country. Engineering and scientific research are what really gives a country competitiveness, not a big financial sector.

If this diverts some scientifically minded people away from finance and into engineering it can only be good for Britain. I'm not knocking IB etc but I think as a career choice it tends to swallow up a lot of talented people who could do more good elsewhere.

Reply 4

OP

Original post by Smack

I don't know enough about the specifics of this university to comment on whether I would apply there (or would have if I didn't already have an engineering degree).

I agree with all this :smile:

My only real concern about this particular initiative is if the degree is accredited or not. The info on the Institute site doesn't confirm this one way or the other. I know the degree itself is awarded by Warwick, but nowhere does it say if it's IMechE or otherwise accredited.

Also I think they have missed a potentially golden opportunity to really promote Degree Apprenticeships. After all, that's really all that this is, and yet that fact is hidden away in the course info. Higher and Degree Apprenticeships need much more publicity, not least to encourage more employers to offer them.

Original post by jneill

I agree with all this :smile:

My only real concern about this particular initiative is if the degree is accredited or not. The info on the Institute site doesn't confirm this one way or the other. I know the degree itself is awarded by Warwick, but nowhere does it say if it's IMechE or otherwise accredited.

It generally takes a good few years for new engineering degrees to receive the appropriate accreditation so it's not necessary something I would be concerned about immediately.

Also I think they have missed a potentially golden opportunity to really promote Degree Apprenticeships. After all, that's really all that this is, and yet that fact is hidden away in the course info. Higher and Degree Apprenticeships need much more publicity, not least to encourage more employers to offer them.

Agreed.

Reply 6

username2471155

I think it's a great idea!

Reply 7

Someboady

17

Original post by jneill

The Dyson Institute of Technology will offer an Engineering degree and starts with 25 students in Sept 2017. The degree will be initially awarded by Warwick, but he's applying for the institute become a full university. (PRSOM to @ageshallnot)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-37834857
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/11/04/dyson-blows-a-breath-of-fresh-air-into-education-by-starting-its/
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/nov/04/james-dyson-addresses-engineering-skills-gap-with-university-launch

Not only is it free to study, in fact you earn £15k a year.

Link to the Institute: https://www.dysoninstitute.com
Minimum requirements are AAB.
Note, it's not on UCAS, and is classed as a Degree Apprenticeship.

Would you consider applying?

Where can I apply!!!!!!????

Reply 8

OP

https://www.dysoninstitute.com/apply/

Original post by Someboady

Where can I apply!!!!!!????

Reply 9

Someboady

17

Original post by jneill

https://www.dysoninstitute.com/apply/

There has to be a catch.. i just can't spot it yet... whats the drawbacks to this program?

Reply 10

OP

Original post by Someboady

There has to be a catch.. i just can't spot it yet... whats the drawbacks to this program?

I expect one major one will be the number of applicants chasing very few places!

But aside from that, not much: you are basically applying for an apprenticeship - so it's a full-time job - which includes teaching via Warwick Uni and you end up with a degree.

It's certainly worth a shot if it interests you and it doesn't affect your UCAS application.

Reply 11

Joinedup

Hmm it's a company I'd associate with fantastic marketing more than fantastic engineering... Probably this is showing how weak the current branding of degree level apprenticeships is currently and IMO it would have been better all round if the government had got Sir James fantastic marketing brain involved in a national apprenticeship rebranding campaign rather than pretending his company has invented some entirely brand new paradigm (again)

Wouldn't want to put aspiring engineers off though - most probably it's a decent example of a degree level apprenticeship and IMO you're better off working for a company with successful marketing.

Reply 12

username2053059

Still wouldn't do it. And even if I did want to, there would be no point in applying considering it's only open to 45 exceptional people.

Reply 13

OP

Original post by cbreef

Still wouldn't do it. And even if I did want to, there would be no point in applying considering it's only open to 45 exceptional people.

Everyone is exceptional :smile:

These 25 people have an AAB requirement.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 14

username2053059

Original post by jneill

Everyone is exceptional :smile:

These 25 people have an AAB requirement.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Yeah, AAB minimum. It's 25? Man, it's worse than I thought.

Reply 15

Petulia

19

We'll be seeing a lot more degree apprenticeships being rolled out in the next few years. The apprenticeship levy 2017 means any business with a wage bill over £3m will have to pay a levy/a form of tax every month. However, they will have access to this money through a digital account, if they hire apprentices, and the money they give every month will basically go towards funding those apprenticeships and training. If they choose not to hire apprentices, then they're basically just paying another tax and losing their money. The aim is to encourage more large businesses to take on apprentices (and to fund it themselves), while apprenticeships in smaller businesses will continue to be state funded for the time being.

Reply 16

Joinedup

Original post by cbreef

Still wouldn't do it. And even if I did want to, there would be no point in applying considering it's only open to 45 exceptional people.

Similar situation to a applying for a proper job as a graduate, you'll have to compete with other people eventually.

Reply 17

username2053059