An official opening and showcase event has been held for the East Midlands Institute of Technology's state-of-the-art building at Derby College.
The 1,100 sq metre, three-storey building at the College's main Roundhouse campus was already in use by students but has now been offficially opened. Over 300 East Midlands IoT students are currently enrolled at Derby College across higher technical programmes, gaining valuable skills that bridge theory and real-world industry practice.
Invited employers, civic leaders, education partners and stakeholders from across the East Midlands watched East Midlands IoT Chair Martin Rigley and Andrew Cochrane, Derby College Chair of Governors, (pictured above, R to L)) cut the ribbon at the event yesterday evening (November 25th).
Derby College is a founding partner of the East Midlands IoT partnership; alongside the University of Derby, Loughborough College and Loughborough University. The EMIOT's emploter partners are Alstom, Bloc Digital Fujitsu, NESO, Rolls-Royce, Toyota UK and Uniper. .
Event attendees were able to explore the building's facilities and hear how the EMIoT is already strengthening partnerships between education and industry.
Located at the front of the College's Stephenson building; the cutting-edge learning environment for digital, engineering and construction students houses technical equipment inside including the:
BLISS Immersive Learning Suite, a 360-degree virtual environment for construction and real-world scenario planning
X2O Hybrid Teaching Suite; enabling seamless live collaboration between students, lecturers, and industry experts across the UK and beyond
3D printers
mechatronics lab (for the integration of engineering, electronics and control systems for industry automation).
Rachel Quinn, Executive Director of the East Midlands Institute of Technology, said: “The East Midlands Institute of Technology is more than a building, it is a platform for innovation and a symbol of regional ambition. We are building a skills ecosystem which connects educators, employers and learners to drive real-world impact.
“The enthusiasm shown by those at the opening event proves the East Midlands is ready to lead in digital transformation, sustainable engineering and advanced manufacturing. By investing in people and partnerships, we are investing in the future, and the benefits will be felt across communities and industries for many years to come.”
Carol Dixon, Director of Employer Partnerships at DCG, said: “We are incredibly proud of the momentum behind the East Midlands Institute of Technology, with 315 students now enrolled the growth speaks for itself. This marks a real step-change not just for technical education, but for how we build lasting bridges between education and employers.
“The EMIoT will continue to strengthen partnerships for DCG and help us expand on all the fantastic work already underway. The East Midlands is developing the talent pipeline our industries need and this is only the beginning.”
A video 'walk-through' of the new building is available below:
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