Graduates On The Road To Success...
10 June 2010
Derbyshire based Cooper Technology sponsored one of the IAT awards at the 2010 National Conference.
"More than 50 students working in industry have now successfully completed the course since it was launched in 2007. We are delighted the efforts of many of them are being celebrated this week at the IAT conference
”Dr Tony Stock, Programme Leader for the University of Derby's Asphalt Technology course.
The University of Derby's pivotal role in supporting the road and pavement industry is being celebrated at a flagship international conference in Ireland this week.
The University runs the only advanced diploma for the asphalt industry which has been created in partnership with the Institute of Asphalt Technology (IAT).
And last night (Wed), a dozen Derby graduates from the Diploma in Asphalt Technology course received prizes for their academic achievements as part of the IAT National Conference 2010 at the Grand Hotel Malahide, in Dublin, on June 9 and 10.
The conference is entitled: Excellence in Asphalt - A Global Perspective and has attracted key industry speakers including Alan Mackenzie, President of EAPA, Dr Nigel Preston, Bitumen Technical Manager, Shell Australia Ltd; and Donna James, Pavement Design and Materials Leader, Highways Agency.
Industry leaders who have sponsored awards to recognize the achievements of outstanding students on the Derby course include Shell, The Worshipful Company of Paviors and Aggregate Industries. The students work for a range of industry employers including Tarmac, Cemex and Hanson.
For the first time, to mark its 20th anniversary, Derbyshire-based Cooper Technology, a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance testing equipment for asphaltic materials, presented a student prize.
Cooper Technology's Director of Research, Andrew Cooper, presented the Cooper Asphalt Engineering Prize 2010. The winner is Robin Hall, an outstanding student on the course when he studied at Derby from 2007-2009.
Andrew Cooper said: "I was extremely pleased to present the award to Robin and hope that it takes him onwards and upwards in his career.
"We at Cooper Technology have first hand knowledge of the benefits of the course, and a colleague is studying on the course which he has found rewarding. We have been very encouraged by his development over this period. I would recommend it, and certainly wish that it had been available when I was starting my career."
Robin will get to visit a state-of-the art continental asphalt testing laboratory in France as part of his prize. Such laboratories are vital to reliable and safe road surfaces helping to ensure, for example, that the asphalt material consistency is correct on the bottom layer of the road to spread the traffic load, and that the surface layer is safe and skid resistant.
Robin, 34, a technician who works at Aggregate Industries in Halton East, Skipton, said: "The course covered a wide range of topics and has given me an excellent overview of the industry, and many different aspects outside of my day-to-day role, to provide a deeper understanding of the sector."
Another prizewinner is Jon Harper, 34, who was a pavement engineer for the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) when he studied part time at Derby and is now TRL's Safety, Health and Environment Manager. Jon will pick up a runner-up Shell Bitumen Award for Excellence in Asphalt Technology.
Based in Berkshire, TRL is an internationally recognised centre of excellence providing world-class research, consultancy, testing and certification for all aspects of transport.
Jon said: "I learnt a lot from the course at Derby about issues related to strategy, business, contracts and other aspects of the industry as well as important trade and engineering knowledge.
"I think this broad knowledge base has helped me to secure this promotion at work to a role which will span all of these areas and more."
Dr Tony Stock, Programme Leader for the University of Derby's Asphalt Technology course said: "We have brought together asphalt (the component) and the engineering (the road structure) in our approach to learning. Traditionally they have been separated in engineering terms.
"Everyone looks down on pavements and roads in the literal sense, but, in order of magnitude, roads are the most valuable asset owned by this country. Add to that the value derived through economic activity and commerce, roads have an unbelievable worth.
"More than 50 students working in industry have now successfully completed the course since it was launched in 2007. We are delighted the efforts of many of them are being celebrated this week at the IAT conference."
More details about the IAT Conference
For more information about this news release, contact Deputy Head of Corporate Relations Simon Redfern on 01332 591942 or 07748 920038 and email: s.redfern@derby.ac.uk
