WMG seeks split from Engineering

The Board of the Faculty of Science has approved the bid of the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) to split from the School of Engineering. The bid passed with ten votes in favour, eight against and two abstentions.

In a statement addressed to the Board of the Faculty of Science in January 2010, Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, director and founder of WMG, argued that WMG has maintained significant independence from the School of Engineering throughout its history, including “a separate five year plan and business model for some considerable time.” He highlighted the fact that formal separation had been “mooted and discussed at various times over the years, including at formal reviews in 1988 and 1998.”

Arguing in favour of the split, Lord Bhattacharyya, discussed the strategy of diversification pursued by WMG over the last five years: “This has been highly successful and has led to an influx of new staff and teams from areas as diverse as e-security, visualisation, digital media and neuroimaging.” The problem however, he argued, was that “throughout the recruitment process for these staff, it has been a significant handicap to be structurally part of the School of Engineering. We have had feedback from applicants that they would see it as potentially damaging to their career prospects to be situated in an Engineering School, whereas the profile of WMG itself would not cause such problems.”

Further problems identified by Lord Bhattacharyya were difficulties with funding bodies “where proposals have to appear from the ‘School of Engineering’ which often does not ‘fit’ to the nature of the research call.”

Following these concerns, Lord Bhattacharyya recommended that the WMG separate formally from the School of Engineering, “thus granting full status as a department within the University.” He argued that such a move would involve “little change in practical terms,” with staff contracts already linked solely to WMG. The only joint post across Engineering and WMG (Health and Safety Adviser) “could easily continue on its current basis as the role is clearly demarcated,” he followed.

An area in which the collaboration between the two departments remains important however is that of the undergraduate programme. In this sector, the WMG works with the School of Engineering, delivering approximately 25 per cent of the programme and providing “key individuals involved in leadership of the programme.” Lord Bhattacharyya however argued that it would be easy to “identify a transfer of resource for WMG’s contribution to the programme, based on current levels.”

The main reason for the split, as highlighted by the report, was the clarity that an independent WMG would provide “to an external audience”, which would “enable WMG to capitalise on its diversified portfolio.”

“On purely financial grounds, the separation would bring much needed benefits to the University as being badged as Engineering is restricting the income streams through WMG,” Professor Lord Bhattacharyya concluded his statement.

Prior to the decision being made by the Board, a Faculty of Science Working Group was tasked to look at whether it was now appropriate to separate WMG and the rest of the current School of Engineering into two departments.

The Working Group recommended that the plan to split the two be set in motion. They also acknowledged that Engineering and WMG should “be helped to continue a productive collaborative relationship,” said Peter Dunn, Communications Officer for the University.

The recent decision “neither obviously threatens nor looks to help students, and is really more to do with power brokering, but I don’t think the inevitable disruption will help anyone,” said John Lapage, Undergraduate Science Faculty Representative. “The SSLCs affected do not see reason for alarm, and having read the report by the working group, I am quietly cautious on how this will affect undergraduates.”

Students remain uncertain and a second-year engineering student told the Boar: “Most people are a little confused as they are not sure of the implications and what it will mean for them.”

Commenting on the motion, Sumaiya Khaku, Students’ Union Education Officer, argued that “both the WMG and Engineering SSLCs were asked to contribute to the consultation and neither had major issues with the split. This was because WMG were clear in their bid that they wish to continue with their commitment to Undergraduate teaching and there is also not much impact on Postgraduate students.”

The Senate will meet on the 16th June to discuss the motion, which needs to pass if WMG is to become a separate department.

### Warwick Manufacturing Group

#### Humble origins

Established in 1980 by Kumar Bhattacharyya, the group stated with just one office – for Bhattacharrya and his secretary. It now employs 300 full-time staff, with 150 associates. It is the largest manufacturing group in Europe.

#### Mission

WMG has an inter-disciplinary approach, exploring manufacturing’s potential in new sectors such as health, banking and digital technology. It aims to bring new standards of academic rigour to industry and business.

#### Facilities

The group occupies four buildings on campus. The International Digital Laboratory (pictured right), Institute of Digital Healthcare, Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre and the National Business to Business Centre.