Cardiff Metropolitan University’s much-anticipated Cardiff School of Technologies was formally launched on Tuesday night (27th February) at an event at the Senedd.
The school plans to recruit 2,000 new students by 2024 aligned to the employment needs of South Wales’ growing tech sector, and will partner with technology-focused companies across the Cardiff Capital Region to support their growth plans with ‘work ready’ graduates in areas such as data science, cyber security, mobile computing, artificial intelligence and systems engineering.
Addressing an audience comprising politicians, business partners and leaders, entrepreneurs, students and academics, Professor Cara Aitchison, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University, said the school will address student demand and employer need in the digital and tech sectors, and is a strategic response to the evolving economic strategy of Wales and the wider UK.
“This new proposal has been developed following extensive research and consultation, and will have significant impact on the economy of the City and the wider Cardiff Capital Region,” Prof Aitchison said.
“The proposed new school is focused on education, research, innovation and higher-level skills in digital media and smart technology, data science and informatics, and systems engineering and design technology.
“These are key sectors of national and international student demand, leading to highly paid graduate-level employment, and have been identified as having significant growth potential in south east Wales, the UK, and internationally.”
Professor Jon Platts, the newly appointed Dean of the Cardiff School of Technologies, said: “Cardiff Metropolitan University has a world-class reputation for its pioneering research, expertise and multi-disciplinary innovation, and I look forward to helping to shape its future growth.
“The new school’s applied course portfolio will be driven by the demand of employers, will create 300 full time jobs within the School and support a further 1,500 roles in the wider Cardiff Capital Region. We will continue to work closely with the business community and industry leaders as we develop our vision for the school.
“We want to offer a broad curriculum of courses that address both core and multi-disciplinary skills but importantly addresses the whole individual to provide potential employees that will be highly sought after by an engaged community of employers.”