University of Birmingham collaboration set to continue

We are proud to announce our involvement in the University of Birmingham’s Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology degree is set to continue after ongoing success in recent years.

Since 2019, we have assisted in the degree programme by preparing real-site case studies and task briefs, ensuring undergraduate students are able to review and solve authentic site problems using real-world data. This has been part of the coursework for their engineering module which typically consists of a 2,000-word report, geological cross-sections, and associated drawings or sketches.

We are to continue this partnership in the upcoming months, by hosting weekly meetings and workshops at our Longbridge office. These meetings allow students ample time and opportunity to gather information, ask questions to staff, present their finished work and gain familiarity of a professional office environment.

In recent years, we have organised a site visit to Longbridge West, which is an active construction site undergoing regeneration as part of the wider redevelopment of the former MG Rover site in Longbridge. The site is being redeveloped into a vibrant community, with a mixture of commercial, residential, industrial, and open green spaces. We understand that developing on-site learning at university level is crucial to strengthening the industry’s links with the education sector and the visits have proven to be enriching for the students, combining theory with the practical reality of engineering and providing a new understanding of how designs are implemented on site.

Daniel Hopkins, principal geo-environmental consultant at Rodgers Leask, leads on forging these educational links and said: “Giving back to the educational process through collaborations like the one we have with the University of Birmingham is incredibly rewarding. Being able to visit sites and see, in person, the work that happens has never been more important for the next generation – to help students understand our industry. The next generation should always be involved in the practical elements of the profession. I look forward to continuing to assist with such experiences and opportunities in the future.”