The Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) recently celebrated 60 years of manufacturing education at the University of Cambridge with a weekend of events that brought together alumni, students, industry leaders and colleagues. The occasion commemorated the launch of the Advanced Course in Production Methods and Management (ACPMM), the precursor to today's MPhil in Industrial Systems, Manufacture and Management (ISMM).

 

Watch a slideshow of our celebrations from across the weekend.

 

The anniversary conference

 

The celebrations began on Saturday 27 June with an anniversary ACPMM, Advanced Course in Design, Manufacture and Management (ACDMM) and ISMM alumni conference, providing an opportunity to reflect on six decades of achievement while looking ahead to the future of manufacturing and manufacturing education.

 

The day opened with Professor Tim Minshall, Head of the IfM, who reflected on the evolving role of manufacturing in addressing global challenges and creating sustainable economic growth. Professor Andy Neely then explored the strengths of the Cambridge innovation ecosystem and highlighted the opportunities presented by the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.

 

 

A series of alumni presentations showcased the breadth of careers and impact that the programme has helped shape over the past 60 years. Breeda McCaffrey shared insights from leading transformation initiatives within Police Scotland; Lauren McMullan discussed creating products that consumers love in her role at SharkNinja; and Ashwin Iyer inspired attendees with the story of founding Instinct Space and developing a rideshare-compatible lunar lander.

 

Current ISMM students also shared reflections from their recent international study tour across France and Germany, where they visited more than 30 companies and gained first-hand insights into manufacturing practices, technologies and innovation in Europe.

 

The conference concluded with Course Directors Florian Urmetzer and Vanessa McNiven outlining the future direction of ISMM, reinforcing its continued commitment to combining academic excellence with industrial relevance and practitioner-led learning.

 

 

Bronwyn Murrell, ISMM alumna and co-founder of Flow Myna, reflects, “That year was transformational. The skills I picked up have shaped every role since. Today, the network and friendships built through that shared experience still hold true. That is what happens when people learn together by doing. And the instant connection with alumni from other cohorts always amazes me. The shared experience of how we learned creates common ground within minutes.”

 

On Saturday evening, guests gathered for a formal anniversary dinner at Robinson College, where alumni and colleagues from across the decades continued conversations, renewed connections and celebrated the programme's enduring legacy.

 

 

A Sunday reunion at the IfM

 

The celebrations continued on Sunday with a lunch reception at the IfM. Alumni, colleagues and friends came together once again to share memories and mark the occasion with a celebratory toast.

 

 

One of the highlights of the afternoon was hearing from Chris Bardwell-Jones, a member of the very first ACPMM cohort in 1966. His reflections provided a unique perspective on the programme's origins and offered a powerful reminder of how manufacturing education at Cambridge has evolved over six decades while remaining true to its mission of developing industrial leaders.

 

While the weekend featured inspiring presentations and discussions about the future of manufacturing, it was ultimately a celebration of the people who have shaped the programme's success. Seeing multiple generations of the IfM community reconnect, exchange ideas and share experiences highlighted the lasting impact of manufacturing education at Cambridge and the strength of the network that has grown around it.

 

Alex Campbell, ACDMM Alumnus and Customer Success Manager at LineView solutions, says “It was great to meet alumni from other years and share stories from what was an incredible experience that involved living out of a suitcase and driving the length and breadth of the country in minibuses in order to immerse ourselves in companies of all sizes and industries. It sparked a real sense of curiosity (as one speaker at dinner so eloquently put it) and adventure, constantly learning from new environments, people, and challenges, and developing skills and perspectives that have stayed with me ever since.”

 

Looking to the future at the House of Lords

 

To conclude our celebrations, we were delighted to be hosted by Lord Simon McDonald at the House of Lords, where we reflected on our past – and, more importantly, on the future. The afternoon brought together distinguished alumni and partners from across the manufacturing community, including representatives from companies that sponsored the very first cohort in 1966, as well as current students.

 

It was a pleasure to hear from IfM alumna Dr Lucy Rogers MBE FREng, who reflected on how the ACDMM impacted her career. As Lucy put it: "I wouldn't be where I am today without the course, and wouldn't have had the fun and varied career I have. Investment in students is vital, otherwise we risk losing decades of possible contribution."

We also heard from Florian Urmetzer, Course Director, who provided a timely reminder that while technology is transforming industry, investing in people remains just as essential.

 

Supporting the next 60 years

 

As the IfM celebrates this landmark anniversary, its focus remains firmly on the future: continuing to develop leaders, advance manufacturing knowledge and support innovation that delivers economic and societal impact around the world.

 

We would like to thank all speakers, attendees, organisers and supporters who helped make the celebrations such a memorable occasion and who continue to contribute to the future of manufacturing education at Cambridge.

 

The anniversary celebrations also provided an opportunity to look ahead through our 60th Anniversary Fund, which will support scholarships, strengthen alumni engagement and help ensure that future generations can benefit from the same transformative educational experience.

 

If you would like to support the next generation of manufacturing leaders, please consider contributing to our 60th Anniversary Fund: https://www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-cambridge/technology/engineering/institute-for-manufacturing-ifm-60th-anniversary-fund