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UCLan investing £20 million to create Engineering Innovation Centre in Preston

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) plans to establish itself as a leader in engineering innovation by building a state-of-the-art facility at the University’s Preston campus.

Opening in 2018, the Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) will capitalise on the local engineering and manufacturing facilities to create an internationally competitive facility that will bring together the region’s expertise from within academia and industry.

UCLan is to invest in excess of £20 million into the project. The EIC, due for completion in early 2018, will be equipped to the highest standard with technology demonstration areas and specialist work areas to create an integrated space for teaching, research and knowledge exchange.

Rob Wallace, Dean of the School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences, said: “The UCLan Engineering Innovation Centre is an ambitious and exciting project that will enable us to provide a long-term economic asset for the area by supporting the industries that are the foundations of Lancashire’s economy and play an important role in the UK’s Industrial Strategy.

“We also aim to inspire and create the next generation of highly-skilled engineering leaders, ready to take on the challenges and opportunities within the UK and global economies.

“For instance, by 2020 one in five young people in the UK will need to become an engineer if we are to close the skills gap. The EIC will help to address this demand and work with local schools and colleges to encourage more students to take up engineering as an attractive career option. We are particularly targeting women who are vastly under-represented in this field.

“Through our expanded engineering school we will also offer degrees in emerging engineering disciplines such as oil and gas safety engineering and aerospace engineering.”

The EIC also plans to work closely with industry, both with SMEs and larger organisations operating throughout the region, and enhance its reputation as a key engineering innovation hub throughout Lancashire.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .