Partner Article

Coventry University and JLR team up to upskill workforce for the electric revolution

Coventry University is helping 1,200 Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) engineers learn the key skills in electric vehicle development and drive the company forward through new bespoke courses.

The university has delivered a pilot training scheme with JLR to build key skills within its workforce to develop systems underpinning electric vehicles as the company realises its all-electric future. This pilot has led the way for the university to continue its training courses for over a thousand workers from January 2023.

Under its Reimagine strategy, Jaguar Land Rover is on track with its plans to launch new EV models, starting with a pure electric Range Rover in 2024. To ensure it can develop, build and service client vehicles over the coming years, JLR launched its Future Skills Programme last year, to train 29,000 of its global workforce in electrification and digital skills.

Coventry University initially partnered with North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC), JLR Academy and JLR Powertrain to create and deliver two courses – a ‘fundamental’ course and an ‘intermediate’ course tailored to the engineers being trained. After the success of this pilot, the university and NWSLC worked together to deliver these courses from January 2023 in the hopes to have all JLR’s engineers fully trained over the next two-and-a-half years.

Paul Noon, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Enterprise and Innovation) at Coventry University, said: “JLR chose to work with Coventry University to create a bespoke course because of our close ties with the automotive industry in the region, and our successful development of courses for different private sector partners.”

The courses will help JLR specify Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) components, perform Verification and Validation (V&V) activities and integrate High Voltage (HV) components and systems into complete electric vehicles.

JLR propulsion experts and the JLR Academy have contributed to course content, tailoring it to JLR’s needs, reviewing content created by Coventry University, all facilitated by the JLR Learning & Development Academy.

Classes are a mix of in-person learning with a subject expert, and hands-on practical learning in Coventry University’s on-campus Electric Vehicle workshop. This work has led to the successful launch of both courses mid-January 2023, and learner feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

JLR is already in the process of planning next cohorts to satisfy the large demand within the business. Jaguar Land Rover Engineering Director Thomas Müller said: “It’s exciting to be partnering with Coventry University to help our people prepare for our new electric era. Automotive jobs are evolving as the industry transforms at pace, so it’s key for us to empower and support our employees in developing knowledge and skills in electrification.

“We are putting in place training programmes to ensure we are readying our people and preparing the business to adapt to our next generation technologies. These actions underline our commitment to developing our future engineering and manufacturing skills, as we continue to create products which will deliver a truly modern luxury experience for our clients.”

Coventry University is also finalising an advanced course which would see engineers earn a degree-level qualification, as well as developing a new course around hydrogen powertrains – another form of low-emission transport.

Dr Awinder Kaur, Associate Head Enterprise and Innovation at Coventry University, said: “The courses are completely tailored to JLR, right down to the parts the engineers use in practical lessons. We listened carefully to JLR’s needs in order to create the most useful courses for their staff.

“This is a brilliant example of how we can use our academic expertise to create and deliver practical, bespoke courses that can make a tangible difference to major companies.

“Coventry University has an important role to play in helping the private sector upskill workforces and enabling the economy to move forward and meet the challenges of an ever-changing global marketplace.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .