14 April 2026 · Partnerships · Dr Raj Patel, Faculty of Science and Engineering
Luma University and Jaguar Land Rover have signed a five-year extension to their strategic partnership, committing a combined £3.1 million to scholarships, student placements and joint research projects focused on electric vehicle technology and sustainable manufacturing. The agreement was signed at the company's Gaydon engineering centre on 11 April 2026.
The partnership, originally established in 2018, has placed more than 200 Luma engineering students in industrial placements and supported 14 collaborative research projects. Under the extended agreement, twelve new Jaguar Land Rover Scholarships will be awarded annually to undergraduates studying mechanical, automotive or electrical engineering, covering tuition fees and providing a maintenance grant.
Professor Sandra Hughes, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, highlighted the mutual benefits of the arrangement. "Our students gain experience on live projects at one of the Midlands' most significant employers. Jaguar Land Rover gains access to emerging talent and academic expertise in areas from battery systems to lightweight materials," she said.
A new joint research centre will be established on the Edgewater campus, housing equipment for testing electric drivetrain components. PhD students funded through the partnership will split their time between university laboratories and Gaydon facilities. The first cohort of partnership-funded doctoral researchers will begin in October 2026.
The announcement reinforces Luma's position within the West Midlands automotive cluster. Local MP Graham Fletcher welcomed the extension, noting that "keeping skilled graduates in the region strengthens our economy and supports the transition to electric vehicle production".