Protecting the Future

We have to think beyond the short term. In order to safeguard our core academic activities and the student experience for the future, we must ensure that our research and teaching are financially sustainable. We need to use resources effectively, transparently and responsibly and to be resilient and adaptable in the face of change.

A sound investment

The Soundhouse is part of our recent investment in new facilities for the arts and humanities. The building incorporates recording studios, composition spaces and a computer laboratory. Undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Department of Music benefit from its state-of-the-art soundproofing and acoustic design.

The University of Sheffield Sound Studios (USSS), based in the Soundhouse, supports open source audio-visual software. Studio staff collaborate with colleagues from the Information School and Department of Computer Science on the design and production of new software tools.

Ongoing work in this area includes the development of free, easy to use learning packages. The aim is to make the technology in the Soundhouse accessible to other musicians and the wider public as well as students.

The model partner for industry

Run by the University in partnership with industry, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing combines our science and engineering expertise with the technological innovation of some of the world's leading aerospace and advanced manufacturing companies.

The centre develops high-tech solutions for materials and machining for aerospace and other industries. It helps fuel the national economy, positioning the UK as a major player in advanced manufacturing. It's also the base for a new Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre which will provide manufacturing expertise for the new generation of civil nuclear energy facilities.

Over 140 highly qualified researchers and engineers from around the globe are employed at the centre. They work with over 60 businesses, from global leaders such as Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Messier Dowty and BAE Systems to local SMEs.

The AMRC is an internationally recognised centre of excellence, the preferred model for industrial and academic collaboration by both Boeing and Rolls-Royce. In recognition of this achievement, the University was awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2007 - the highest honour for a UK university.

In October 2010, Prime Minister David Cameron identified the AMRC as a role model for a new generation of government-backed technology and innovation centres.

"We believe that the University of Sheffield is one of the few universities that really understands the link between research and industrial application."

Sir Roger Bone
President, Boeing UK