University partners in new world-class skills centre for automotive sector

Our University is partnering with HORIBA MIRA and other Midlands-based education institutions to build the MIRA Technology Institute – a new world-class skills centre for the automotive sector to be based at MIRA Technology Park.

Set to open in 2018, the MIRA Technology Institute (MTI) will be a 24,500 sq. ft. bespoke global skills centre based at MIRA Technology Park, the UK’s leading automotive technology park and Enterprise Zone. Other partners include North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (lead partner), Coventry University and Loughborough University.

As vehicle manufacturers and their supply chains gear up for expansion and growth, the supply of specialist skills still lags behind. The development of MTI follows research by the Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) to identify future skills needs and to address the demand by the automotive sector for specialist skills.

The University of Leicester will be delivering specialist courses in advanced structural dynamics using their MIRA Technology Park-based ASDEC facility, specialist software skills for reliable ‘real-time’ embedded systems, advanced engineering management courses up to MSc level and developing needs-led courses to meet the evolving needs of the automotive industry.

In addition a Doctoral school will operate from MTI, working with the university partners to deliver research programmes leading to PhDs.

Aligned with the government’s new Industrial Strategy Green Paper, MTI is being funded by £9.5m from the Leicester and Leicestershire LEP Growth Deal Fund, and is backed by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Professor Iain Gillespie, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Leicester said: “We are delighted to be working even more closely with HORIBA MIRA as a partner in the MIRA Technology Institute.

“In line with the Midlands Engine and the Government’s Industrial Strategy, our University is committed to helping address the skills gap and driving growth for businesses through research and innovation in the Midlands and nationally.

“We already offer engineering skills from foundation to PhD level as well as professional development opportunities for the automotive and transport sector, so MTI is a perfect fit for the University and a natural progression of our engagement with business.”