Nottingham Trent University and ASI Cement Strategic Partnership
The Air & Space Institute (ASI) Newark, has reasserted its strategic partnership with Nottingham Trent University (NTU).
By Sarah McLeod | Published on 1 October 2025
Categories: Press office; Mansfield; School of Science and Technology;
The partnership, which was first established in 2023 when the ASI facility was under construction, gives the Institute’s Higher Education students the chance to complete a top-up degree, delivered by NTU at ASI, after finishing their Level 5 Higher National Diploma (HND) studies.
ASI Newark launched in 2021, with the first intake of Higher Education students starting in 2024 studying programmes designed for future air and space engineers. Since then, the purpose-built ASI HQ boasts simulators, a full Airbus A318, multiple workshops and dedicated seminar space.
Those who join ASI after leaving school are able to gain their Level 3 qualifications in an industry-standard facility and progress to study either a Level 4 and 5 Aerospace Engineering or Space Technologies Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) before progressing to the full Level 6 BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering (Top-Up) degree.
Lincoln College Assistant Principal Higher Education, Mel Watson, said: “Collaboration is one of the key things we look for in order to strengthen our ability to develop truly employer-led training and this partnership with Nottingham Trent University will provide a clear career pathway from schools right through to degree level.
“Since the inception of the ASI, we’ve been amazed at the ambition and focus of our students. This partnership will no doubt give people that edge they need to enter what is a buoyant and thrilling industry to enter at the moment.”
Thanks to this new partnership with NTU, students can stay on at ASI after finishing their Level 5 qualification to complete a full bachelor’s degree.
Professor Sarah Speight, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at Nottingham Trent University, added:
“At Nottingham Trent University, we are proud to deepen our partnership with the Air & Space Institute. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to creating accessible, high-quality pathways into the aviation and aerospace industries.
“By combining NTU’s academic excellence with ASI’s cutting-edge facilities and employer-led training, we are equipping students with the skills, experience and qualifications they need to thrive in a fast-evolving global sector.”
More information on the Aerospace Engineering top-up course here.
Notes for Editors
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About Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has been named UK ‘University of the Year’ five times in six years, (Times Higher Education Awards 2017, The Guardian University Awards 2019, The Times and Sunday Times 2018 and 2023, Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023) and is consistently one of the top performing modern universities in the UK.
Students have voted us the best university in the UK and 1st in the UK for student employability (Uni Compare 2025).
NTU is 4th in the UK for number of undergraduate students (HESA 2023-24) with over 36,000 students and more than 4,000 staff located across six campuses. It has an international student population of 6,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.
NTU owns two Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for outstanding achievements in research (2015, 2021). The first recognises NTU’s research on the safety and security of global citizens. The second was awarded for research in science, engineering, arts and humanities to investigate and restore cultural objects, buildings and heritage. The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent.
NTU was awarded GOLD in the national 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment.
NTU is a top 10 for sport (British Universities and Colleges Sport league table 2025) and was named as Sports University of the Year (Daily Mail University Guide 2025). It has also been ranked as 25th in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2026.
NTU is a holder of the University Mental Health Charter recognising the commitment an institution has shown towards continuous improvement in the area of mental health and wellbeing.
NTU is the most environmentally sustainable university in the UK and second in the world (UI Green Metric University World Rankings, 2024).