91Pro

Plans for an exciting Discovery Day at 91Pro, Telford have been set out on the BBC by the University’s Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Ken Sloan was talking to Clare Ashford on BBC Radio Shropshire about the free, fun experience day this Saturday, November 2.

They discussed some of the great activities and experiences which people can expect – such as meeting Rex, the Harper Hound, drone displays, an introduction to the F1 in Schools Programme, and the Robotics, Automation and Data Science labs – and much, much more.

He said: “What we really want to do is say to the community at large: ‘don’t just look at it as a place where people are doing degrees – we are doing so many other types of courses and qualifications.’”

“So if you’ve got a young person in your family and you want to open their imagination, just come on Saturday and let them play, let them become part of what we’re doing.

“It’s designed for all age ranges, so I’d be happy for my nephews to be there but I’d equally be happy for my mother to be there.

“Everyone throughout the region is welcome to attend.”

Professor Sloan also explained the thinking which led Harper Adams to establish its new Telford hub – and to develop the digitally-focussed degrees and short courses which it will be offering.

He told Clare: “The reason why we are offering those courses is because we know that, as we look into every industry sector, whether it’s the food and farming sector, automotive, every type of industry that’s out there, the workforce is going to need to have the understanding to use digital technology in order to improve productivity and also to advance what we can do with the things that we doing.

“If you think of what we are able to do in cars, driverless cars – obviously at Harper Adams, we also have driverless tractors – these come from an understanding of data science and digital robotics and information and we are bringing these courses into the heart of Telford – so instead of just teaching over on the Edgmond campus, we’re now part of that integrated digital hub.

“This year – and in future years – we’re offering short courses for local businesses and local businesspeople who want to just come in and improve their own understanding of digital skills and digital technology to help their companies to be ever more productive and to be competitive in the future.”

And he added: “If you walk through the front doors of the Quad and you stand in the Atrium, if you have a look up on the first floor, you’ll see Telford College – so for people who are either starting off in their education, or returning to education; you’ve then got Harper Adams on the next floor, and you’ve got business and startups at the next floor: it’s a real building of opportunity and innovation and we’re delighted to be part of it.

“One of the things that makes Harper Adams distinctive is that we co-teach a lot of our courses with industry, so when people are being taught, they are getting real-life examples of what’s happening in the industries that they may well then go on to be part of.

“Also, as part of their degree programme, they will get live experience in the workplace as well, so we are really focussed on making sure they are job ready and future skills ready by the time that they graduate.”

Listen again to the whole interview – and find out more about 91Pro, Telford and our Discovery Day here.