A new East Midlands Institute of Technology is set to open in September, offering places for over 1,000 students at sites in Derby and Loughborough. This joint venture between Derby College, Loughborough College, the University of Derby, and Loughborough University has garnered support from major companies like Rolls-Royce and Toyota, who will provide work experience placements.
The construction of a £5.7m building on Pride Park in Derby is underway and is expected to be completed by September. Executive director Rachel Quinn expressed excitement about the job opportunities the institute will bring to students, emphasizing the need to fill local job vacancies in the East Midlands.
With 21 similar institutes being established across the country with funding from the Department for Education, the East Midlands Institute has secured support from companies like Rolls-Royce, Toyota, Bloc Digital, and Fujitsu, who will offer professional mentoring, site visits, and work experience opportunities.
Ms. Quinn highlighted the changing landscape of engineering jobs, dispelling misconceptions about the industry being hard or dirty work. She emphasized the professional environments and abundance of job opportunities available in engineering today.
The institute’s new building, located next to the station and Derby College’s Roundhouse site, will be carbon neutral with cutting-edge technology, including solar panels and LED lighting, according to College IT director Ian McCormick. This state-of-the-art facility aims to provide students with a modern and sustainable learning environment.