Technology company Hewlett Packard (HP) is working with Leicester’s De Montfort University (DMU) to provide a new IT degree for up to 70 students.

The degree will be focused on IT services management, project management, networking, servers and storage, cloud computing and virtualisation, and begins next September.

HP will also offer work experience to students and staff at DMU, as well as at least 30 internships at the company for students to undertake in the third year of their courses.

Nick Wilson, vice-president and managing director at HP UK and Ireland, says: “These skills are not developed on other courses. The degree will mean that students not only know how technology is used but also how to apply it in a working environment […] It’s hoped that when they graduate from the degree, jobseekers will be more employable and companies may consider them for a number of roles.”

David Willetts, the minister for universities and science, says that the course is a good example of how universities and businesses can work together to “drive growth and innovation”.

The collaboration is part of a wider strategy of HP to support development of science and technology education, as part of which they have made research grants to over 50 universities worldwide.