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UK's Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) is Cloned in China to Advance Engineering Excellence

Originally Published 07 June 2004

The Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), based at the University of Warwick, UK, and Malaysian firm Global EduTech Management Group (GEM) are set to launch the International Manufacturing & Technology Management Centre, on 12th June 1004, in Suzhhou, China, to advance international collaboration in engineering. The joint venture replicates the internationally renowned WMG which is a model of engineering excellence in the UK and globally.

The International Manufacturing & Technology Management Centre (IMTMC) is receiving investment totalling $140 million to provide a base for research and education in international manufacturing and technology management, and boost China’s move to become a partner in manufacturing excellence.

Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, Director of WMG, will be whisked from his investiture in the House of Lords, on 9th June where he will be honoured with a Peerage, to attend IMTMC’s opening ceremony. Other launch attendees include industry leaders from across China, China’s Vice Minister of Education, Mr Zhang Xinsheng, and Chairman of the GEM Group, Dato’ P Y Lai.

Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, director of WMG, said: “Forward thinking and innovation are the keys to the prosperity of engineering world wide and this new Centre forges partnerships that build on China’s technological advancement. Warwick Manufacturing Group is one of the partners helping to deliver not just a Centre of excellence for technology transfer, but also a stream of first rate, outstanding engineers whose skills will help keep the industry at the forefront of technology.”

“The Chinese manufacturing economy is the fasted growing, and will soon be the largest in the world. The new Centre is a huge expansion on WMG’s activities in China. For the first time we will be undertaking large scale research and development activities as well as delivering our full range of education and training. With the backing of GEM and the support of the Government of China we are confident that we will be able to satisfy some of the enormous demand for this type of activity that has developed in China in the last few years.”

The Centre in China joins the network of WMG global centres in Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand and India.

The Warwick Manufacturing Group educates more than 5,000 post-graduates a year through its worldwide networks of operations, and there is potential for the new Centre to grow into a similarly influential beacon of excellence.

Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharrya is one of Britain's most influential manufacturing industry experts. In addition to a wide knowledge of the developing economies he has trained more than 100,000 UK managers, and his services to industry and higher education were recognised by his knighthood in the Queen's birthday honours list in 2003.

For more information contact: Nick Matthews, Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick, Tel: 024 76572506 or 0777 5534352 or Jenny Murray, Communications Office, University of Warwick, Tel: 02476 574 255, Mobile: 07876 21 7740