Robotics MSc next step for University of Plymouth graduate mentored by Plessey CEO

Plymouth, ENGLAND – 11 October 2017: Tamar Engineering Project (TEP) scholar Brian Viviers has graduated with first-class honours in BSc Computer Science from the University of Plymouth and has now begun a master’s degree course in Robotics at the University of Bristol.

TEP is a mentoring and financial award programme introduced by University of Plymouth to help remedy the growing technical skills shortage in the UK. The programme aims to provide one-to-one mentoring and financial support to high-performing students who may face socio-economic barriers in their academic pursuits.

One of the first TEP pilot project’s scholars to graduate, Brian Viviers, was selected among the top performing students across 29 engineering-related courses including computer science, civil engineering and mechanical engineering.
Receiving one-to-one mentoring from industry veteran LeGoff, Viviers was guided through the essential commercial skills that employers look for, helping him to develop confidence and sense of direction in his career. Demonstrating his determination to succeed, Brian not only achieved first-class honours in his degree, but was also awarded Best Overall Computing Student from the British Computing Society.

A pre-graduation ceremony reception was held in September at the Lord Mayor’s residence at Elliot Terrace in Plymouth to congratulate Brian on his achievements. The event was hosted by the University of Plymouth’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Judith Petts CBE and Professor Kevin Jones, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering; and Michael LeGoff – the CEO of Plessey – who played a pivotal role as Brian’s TEP mentor.

The Tamar Engineering Project is championed and driven by former chiefs and serving executives of industry leading companies like Lockheed Martin, BT, SC Group, and Dawnus.

TEP aims to support up to five new students every year throughout their study at the University of Plymouth to help shape confident, employable, conscientious engineers of the future. Mentors and businesses interested in the Tamar Engineering Project can find more information at https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/campaign/tamar while students interested in applying can visit https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/campaign/tamarapply.

The Royal Academy of Engineering estimates that British industry will require 100,000 new graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects every year until 2020 if it is to meet its growth aspirations. However, the UK higher education sector has been producing fewer than 90,000 STEM graduates each year.