BAE announces Southampton University partnership

27 July 2010

BAE Systems has launched a long-term partnership with Southampton University, worth at least £1.25m over the next five years.

The arrangement is the second of four to be announced in the maritime engineering sector and is part of the company’s Skills2020 strategy, which aims to invest in the skills needed to remain competitive over the next decade and beyond.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding strengthens existing links between BAE Systems and the university and will involve reciprocal secondments between the company and university staff, industrial placements for Masters students and long-term collaborative research.

Projects are expected to focus on computational fluid dynamics that will model fluid flows around novel ship hull forms, as well as propeller and superstructure designs.

The initiative will also give students the opportunity to get involved in research that will be applied to the design and production of next-generation warships, such as the Type 26 combat ship being developed for the Royal Navy.

‘The collaboration will raise the profile of engineering and assist in securing a flow of fresh engineering talent, helping to tackle potential skills shortages,’ said Alan Johnston, managing director of BAE Systems Surface Ships. ‘This will ensure that our business has the right skill set for the future to support our continued drive for innovation and engineering excellence.’