The Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) and Coventry University have signed a partnership agreement to offer increased support for civil engineering students with a particular interest in highways and transportation.
The Academic-Professional agreement is part of an ongoing strategy at the IHE to develop closer working relationships with academic institutions. It is already actively involved with several universities across the UK.
Coventry University's civil engineering course is aimed at students aspiring to become professionally qualified engineers, with an emphasis on practice and construction.
It also provides highways and transportation teaching as part of the curriculum – both in taught modules and group-project activities.
IHE chief executive Steve Spender (pictured, above right) said: 'Our relationship with Coventry University has been growing in strength for several years.
'We hope this collaboration will help strengthen the task of both the IHE and Coventry University to produce academically and professionally qualified engineers in the future. We trust that it will benefit all those involved, most importantly the students whom we hope we can help take their first steps towards gaining professional registration.'
Coventry has a long-established reputation for teaching the subject and has links with employers like Arcadis, Arup, Atkins, Balfour Beatty, BAM, Galliford Try, Interserve, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Morgan Sindall and Mott MacDonald many of which provide direct input into course development.
Professor Catherine Hobbs (pictured above left), academic dean for the Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing at Coventry University, said: 'I am really pleased that we are partnering with the Institute of Highway Engineers to support students with a particular interest in highways and transportation.
'The future of transportation lies in the hands of this generation. They will benefit enormously from the experience of the highways and transportation industry provided by the IHE.'
Dr Neil Tsang, associate professor and the Civil Engineering curriculum lead, at Coventry University said: 'Transportation Engineering is one of the core subjects of the Civil Engineering Curriculum, and many of our graduates work in the highways sector. This collaboration will enhance our students’ learning experience and support their professional development.'
