Closure of CDS Impact and Armour Group and Ranges: Impact on Student Experience

The IAG facilitated several invaluable elements of the BTC. This is absolutely critical and has already provided a cornerstone of knowledge that has added significant technical value to defence. I cannot stress enough that the practical education provided by the IAG cannot be replaced by classroom or virtual means; it gives the Army Officer what is needed to understand ballistics and it is no understatement to say that ultimately, this saves lives.

Far more value will be gained from the course if we have access to the benefits provided by the workshop.

I do not understand how the world leading academic institution in fields such as Explosives Ordnance Engineering can maintain this claim without the ability to manufacture an item and then explosively test it on site. Sub-contracting out to the cheapest bidder may appear attractive on paper, but the quality of education and support provided to students will suffer. It is my honest belief that it already is. This cost cutting is going too far. The difference that I have seen in 2017 compared to my last course in 2015 in dramatic. I honestly do not see the same level of value for fees as before. Just more and more cost cutting.

I object to what is clearly a short sighted cut in a valuable capability. Once this is gone it will be impossible to recreate, and so it should be maintained

Far too many cost saving measures are being implemented at the cost of student experience and potential learning. Will the excessive tuition fees be reduced or reimbursed to reflect this fact?

The Cranfield ballistic test facilities provide a unique and valuable support facility to both student teaching and research. The ability to conduct this work on Campus separates Cranfield from other teaching and research universities and is a significant factor in attracting students and external research opportunities (military and civilian).

Don't give up essential competencies. Hans

A valuable facility that should not disappear

Alumnus GSD

Removing core facilities such as the ranges and the expertise of the staff can only be seen as a short term solution to balance the books. It is aspects such as the range that feed Cranfield University's unique stature within international Universities. Removing such an aspect will hinder research activities across the institution and fundamentally dilute Cranfield's ability to perform in the market.

Range closure would significant degrade training levels and result in loss of experience and research opportunities. Please keep this national asset open.

They do an amazing research.

This plan is a major national and financial error.

A useful asset that cannot afford to be lost. The MOD has already lost lots of sites similar to this, where do the cuts stop? And at what cost to defence will they be felt! Please reconsider.

Cram field at Shrivenham delivers the world standard when it comes to ATO and AT education, this is why other countries still respect and desire GB support in times of conflict and with counter terrorism. Please reconsider with regard the wider UK international reputation. This is an essential component of Ammunition and Explosives education for UK National interests

This proposal would lead to a loss in UK capability in this area, is this acceptable, as it is likely to be irreplaceable? It will significantly narrow the project work undertaken at the site and will reduce the number of student applicants.

Closure of these facilities only lowers the opportunities for students to have visibility and input into a critical area of research, reducing the student experience. I encourage the university to reconsider this decision.

The IAG do crucial, exceptional world leading research which has far reaching effects in related areas including forensic science. Closing IAG would be a catastrophic loss for the MoD and related organisations nationally and internationally.

This plan is financially flawed. The benefits over the MoD contract period have been well documented. As a Centre it is of world status.

This closure will remove a unique facility for training ATOs and others who work with explosives. It is essential that those who are going to work with explosives are exposed to them and their effects as soon as possible in their training. It would reduce the world standing of Cranfield's courses.