Multi-million pound revamp for University of Sheffield engineering department

Investment will create improved facilities and better teaching space

The University of Sheffield is planning to spend £21 million to improve its Faculty of Engineering.

The investment will see the creation of a new Engineering Graduate School which will be the first step in a series of planned improvements to buildings and teaching facilities, said the university. Once completed it is hoped the school will become the centre of the faculty's postgraduate research and teaching activities.

The university is also looking to recruit 20 engineering academics to support the expansion.

Professor Mike Hounslow, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sheffield, said: “The city and the University of Sheffield have a world-wide reputation for quality in engineering. I am delighted that we can make these investments now to build on that reputation, offer even better facilities and teaching to our students and make an impact on the UK and regional economy.”

Building work for the Engineering Graduate School is due to begin in November 2011, and is expected to be completed by August 2013.

With seven departments, more than 3,000 students and 800 staff, the University’s Faculty of Engineering is one of the biggest in the UK. The faculty has a long tradition of working with companies including Rolls-Royce, Network Rail and Siemens.

In recent times it has worked hard at establishing stronger industrial links, being a partner in the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing and the new £25 million Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC).