AME appoints first director

Carl Perrin will head up the new institute, which will welcome its first cohort of undergraduate and postgraduate students in September. The £32 million initiative is set to pioneer a new higher education model for manufacturing engineering degrees, offering a blend of innovative activity-led teaching, product development and research to create a unique learning environment. Its aim is to develop the next generation of highly skilled, specialist engineers and operational leaders by providing up to 40 students every year with direct access to Unipart's operations, allowing them to work on 'live' issues in a real world manufacturing production environment. Research and testing carried out in partnership between the University and Unipart is intended to stimulate new product and process development, boosting innovation in both the regional and national economy. Perrin, who takes up his role as institute director on April 28, is a chartered engineer and fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. He is moving from Rolls-Royce where he was head of technology at a joint venture based in Nottingham.