LJMU is one of five universities taking part in Connected Curriculum which will offer students access to the latest industrial know-how. Tony McDonough reports

Industrial giant Siemens is teaming up with Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) to embed the latest advanced manufacturing know-how into its teaching.

Based in Germany, Siemens works across the world in multiple sectors. In the Liverpool city region is played a major role in the large Burbo Back offshore wind farm in Liverpool Bay.

It has now announced a new academic teaching programme called Connected Curriculum in partnership with LJMU, as well as the University of Sheffield, Middlesex University, Newcastle University and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Each of the institutions will work closely with Siemens to bring advanced industry 4.0 tools, data and approaches into their respective apprenticeship, undergraduate and masters courses.  

Festo, the global supplier of automation technology and provider of industrial training and education programs is a key delivery partner for the new curriculum. At the heart of Connected Curriculum is Siemens Digital Industries world-leading industrial software portfolio and cloud-based IoT platform MindSphere.

MindSphere is a highly secure operating system which connects industrial machines and devices via IoT protocols. It allows data from multiple sources to be captured and analysed simultaneously, creating a real-time picture of the whole production process via a single, powerful and intuitive interface.

In 2017, Siemens launched the MindSphere Innovation Network (MINe), engaging with more than 50 businesses on more than 20 projects. Common feedback from all the collaborations has been the need to build the skill base in companies and universities alike.

Brian Holliday, managing director of Siemens Digital Industries, said: “Collaboration is central to delivering successful, robust and secure industrial IoT projects. Universities can be key partners in this process, often having expertise industry doesn’t such as data science, visualisation and insights into human behaviour including how people engage with technology.

“This is why Siemens developed MINe in partnership with several universities two years ago, which in turn has informed the Connected Curriculum. I am now looking forward to working with Sheffield, John Moores, Middlesex and Manchester Metropolitan universities to help explore the full potential of Industrial IoT with our MindSphere platform at the heart of the process.”