On 28 June, the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) welcomed alumni from across six decades of its one-year manufacturing engineering programmes for a day of networking, discussion and inspiration.

 

From casual conversations over lunch to engaging presentations and roundtable discussions, the event brought together graduates, students, and faculty members to reflect on the lasting influence of the IfM community – and to explore how the current ISMM course can continue to adapt to future manufacturing challenges.

 

 

A legacy of excellence

Professor Tim Minshall, Head of the IfM, opened the day. He began by recognising the achievements of the more than 1,880 students who have participated in the ACPMM, ACDMM, and ISMM programmes over the past 59 years.

 

He expressed his gratitude to all those involved in shaping and delivering these programmes over the decades, highlighting their ongoing development as a collaborative effort between academics, industry partners and students themselves.

With alumni present from as early as the second cohort in 1968 through to the current cohort 59, the event highlighted the remarkable continuity and evolution of the IfM community.

 

 

That legacy was underscored by the announcement that the ISMM programme has been ranked the UK’s number one manufacturing engineering master’s course in the Complete University Guide 2025.

 

“This recognition reflects a 60-year journey to get to this point,” Tim said. “But we can’t stand still – we need to keep pushing forward. The challenges and opportunities facing manufacturing today demand the very best talent and continuous innovation.”

 

Exploring the future of advanced manufacturing

The afternoon continued with a keynote by Professor Bill O’Neill, who delivered an engaging session on Next-Generation Lasers: Transforming the Future of Advanced Manufacturing.

 

Bill, who teaches on the ISMM course, introduced the work of the Centre for Industrial Photonics, exploring the unique properties that distinguish lasers from other manufacturing technologies, highlighting their precision, versatility, and growing industrial significance.

 

 

He reflected on key innovations and pivotal figures who have shaped the history of laser technology and presented the Centre’s groundbreaking additive manufacturing technique, laser-assisted cold spray. His talk also featured real-world examples of high-power laser processing in advanced manufacturing, sparking lively discussion and insightful questions from both alumni and students.

 

“It’s a great honour to teach ISMM students,” Bill concluded. “The course is unique. It blends personal experience with hands-on challenges in a way that no other programme does. Industry partners benefit enormously from the transformations that our students help deliver – even during short-term placements.”

 

Student presentations and forward-looking conversations

Current ISMM students Adya Hegde and Joud Dakkuri presented their recent group project work, offering a glimpse into the programme’s continuing relevance to real-world manufacturing challenges. Their presentations highlighted the applied, team-based nature of the course and demonstrated how collaboration across disciplines can lead to meaningful impact.

 

 

 

They also shared personal reflections on their individual industry placements, speaking about the variety and intensity of their short-term assignments. From adapting to new organisational cultures to delivering results under tight time frames, they discussed the highs and lows of their experiences, alongside the critical skills they developed along the way.

 

Their insights captured the essence of the ISMM experience: a transformative year that challenges students to grow as engineers, collaborators and future leaders in industry.

 

This was followed by a series of interactive roundtable discussions where students and alumni explored the evolving skills landscape in manufacturing. Topics included through-career training needs, the role of lifelong learning, and how the IfM can continue to support the sector’s transformation. The discussions were hosted by current students, who facilitated the knowledge exchange and gathered insights from industry-experienced alumni.

 

Looking Ahead: 60 Years of ISMM

The event concluded with afternoon tea and an opportunity for one final round of reconnections and reflections. As attendees departed, the message was clear: the strength of the IfM’s manufacturing programme lies not only in its academic rigour but in the vibrant community it fosters.

 

“It was incredibly nostalgic to return to the IfM. It is such a special place, filled with great memories, many of which are centred around solving real-world manufacturing challenges. It was particularly great to reconnect with the next generation of manufacturing engineers. Many thanks to everyone who helped organise the event," said former ISMM student Jack Levy. 

 

Dr Florian Urmetzer, Academic Course Director for ISMM, said: “It’s wonderful to reconnect with alumni from across the six decades of our one-year manufacturing engineering programme – and to share updates on the latest work of the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge.

 

“Engaging with our alumni reminds us just how far-reaching the impact of these programmes is – and how valuable it is to bring this community together to reflect, inspire and collaborate.”

 

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With the 60th anniversary of the one-year IfM manufacturing engineering programme approaching in 2026, alumni are warmly invited to join a special weekend of talks and celebrations. Details will be announced in due course.