IChemE ceo supports new chemical engineering course

5th April 2012

A new chemical engineering degree course, launched today at the University of Hull, UK, has won the backing of IChemE ceo David Brown and president Sir William Wakeham.

From September, the University of Hull will offer an option to study towards a Bachelors or Masters degree in chemical engineering, to complement the foundation degree already offered. The development of the new degree courses comes from a collaboration between the departments of engineering and chemistry.

The Humber region has a high concentration of chemical processing companies and studying chemical engineering at the university is expected to be a popular choice for the next generation of engineers.

Brown says: “We’re delighted to see the new chemical engineering programme in Hull. This move will meet a real need to develop skilled process engineers in the region and we look forward to continued cooperation with the university.”

The university anticipates that students on the new chemical engineering programme will also have access to the Centre for the Assessment of Technical Competency (CATCH). The £8m centre provides the opportunity to experience life as a chemical engineer, with access to realistic equipment, physical environment and operating procedures – a factor that will add to the employability of the students once they graduate.

Head of engineering Jim Gilbert says: “The introduction of these courses builds on the University’s established expertise in chemistry and engineering education.

“We have successful partnerships with local businesses, many of whom are very prominent in chemical engineering. The close collaboration with industry will make these programmes popular with students looking to enter the industry with a high-quality, employer-friendly degree.”