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The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) hosted an event in conjunction with the British Army to provide new details regarding its MEng (Hons) Integrated Engineering (Autonomous Robotics).
The announcement event, attended by Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns MP, showcased current student projects involving real-world autonomous systems and drone technologies. The degree is scheduled to welcome its first intake of students in September 2026, offering a curriculum designed to address immediate needs in defence, security capability, and regional economic growth.
Unlike traditional four-year programmes, this master’s degree uses a hands-on pedagogy to allow students to graduate in three years. The curriculum combines engineering fundamentals with practical experience in autonomous systems, specifically focusing on the dual-use potential of drone technology for civilian, commercial, humanitarian, and defense applications.
James Newby, President and Chief Executive Officer at NMITE, commented, “This degree reflects the scale of the opportunity in front of us – to equip the next generation of engineers with skills that matter now, and to quickly deliver positive impacts in terms of skills, defence and a security capability and regional growth. The fact that we expect many local young people to take on the degree and build their futures with us, is incredibly exciting.”
The event also highlighted the involvement of industry partners such as Hereford-based Level Peaks and other defence and security firms. These partnerships aim to provide students with direct industry insight and financial support throughout their studies.
Professor Alexandru (Alex) Stancu, Academic Lead for this degree, added, “The curriculum has been designed from the ground up to combine rigorous engineering fundamentals with hands-on experience in autonomous systems, ensuring students engage with the technologies and challenges facing the country today. I am incredibly excited to be involved and can’t wait to start working with students on this exciting project.”
A spokesperson for Level Peaks, stated, “We have a long-standing relationship with NMITE and strongly believe in the value the university brings to the local area and the industries we operate within. Our partnership is built on meaningful collaboration – from investing in students through financial support, to sharing knowledge, expertise, and direct industry insight. As NMITE enters the next stage of its journey with the introduction of the MEng degrees in Autonomous Robotics, it clearly demonstrates the institute’s modern, forward-thinking, and industry-relevant academic approach. This development is particularly exciting and will prove invaluable to the industry, creating new opportunities for collaboration while significantly enhancing student futures.”
Representatives from the Army’s Experimentation and Trials Group were also present at the unveiling, representing the profile of personnel who may enroll in the degree alongside local students and engineering graduates.
