Robert Higham

I was educated at Primary, Secondary and Further Education levels in Preston. I worked at BAE Systems as an apprentice and then onto BMW as a diagnostic technician. I then went to university as a mature student and studied Motorsports Engineering at the University of Central Lancashire.

I went back into industry as a placement student working for Airbus UK in the materials and processes department before I was offered an opportunity to spend some time in North Germany carrying out some research and development of additive manufacturing (3D printing).

Airbus Germany funded my dissertation on my return to university, and I finished with a 1st class degree with honours. I returned to Airbus and spent several years at Airbus in various roles before I settled as an additive manufacturing and metallic material specialist before taking up my current role at the University of Bolton.

I completed my PG Cert in teaching and learning in higher and professional education and am now a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

I was asked to take over programme leadership in July 2018 and have since refreshed the motorsports courses with my colleagues, and this has been validated by the PSRB.

My professional duties and research help inform my teaching and professional activities by being directly-transferrable to the classroom and with real industrial connection and collaboration at the heart of this.