To equip engineering graduates with the skills their careers will demand, curricula must be shaped by industry’s real needs and priorities. In additive manufacturing, persistent skills gaps in areas such as design for AM, materials process relationships, quality assurance, and digital workflows continue to limit how effectively organisations can adopt and scale these technologies. Closing that gap requires curriculum codesign that goes beyond surface level engagement, embedding translational pathways that guide students from laboratory scale experimentation into industrially realistic environments.

This talk draws on the work of Professor Robert Kay at the University of Leeds, whose dual role as Professor of Advanced Manufacturing and founder of Hydra Manufacturing positions him at the intersection of academic research and commercial production. With over 25 years of experience in hybrid additive manufacturing and a strong track record in patents, spin outs, and technology licensing, Professor Kay offers a proven model for how research progression across Technology Readiness Levels can directly inform teaching through project based learning, industry placements, and research and commercialisation focused teaching.

Given the breadth of components that can be produced using additive manufacturing techniques, teaching requires a structured, creative and interactive approach that enables students to exercise initiative in their learning. Furthermore, this talk will discuss Right First Time methodologies for sustainability, linking cross disciplinary knowledge through the integration of materials science, manufacturing processes, engineering design, and digital manufacturing. The talk will reflect on how competency frameworks codesigned with industry partners can anchor these methods in authentic production scale requirements, and what that means for the future of AM education.
 

Following a series of presentations exploring the AM skills landscape—from aligning talent with industry needs, to co‑creating education with industry partners, to the evolution of AM as a WorldSkill—this panel brings the conversation together. Moderated by Steve Cox, representatives from Alexander Daniels Global and the University of Leeds will examine how industry, academia, and skills bodies can collaboratively build a resilient, future‑ready AM workforce. The discussion will address recruitment realities, emerging competency requirements, talent retention, and the role of practical training pathways. Attendees will gain a holistic view of what it takes to equip the next generation with the skills and confidence to drive AM adoption at scale.