Engineering change

Birmingham University is radically restyling engineering teaching to work more with other disciplines and investing in high-quality staff and facilities.

The university, which is celebrating its centenary this year, is opening a new school of engineering in August 2001.

The plan is to link teaching to other

subjects, such as

computer science and medicine, where engineering has played a greater role in research and

development.

Vice-chancellor Maxwell Irvine said: "Engineering has been of fundamental importance to the

university since its foundation. It is

fundamental to the manufacturing region that is the university's home and is fundamental to the economic success of the country."