Research and Intelligence

Research and Intelligence

NWUA is well placed to gather information on the North West HE sector’s response to the economic downturn. It is important that this information is disseminated to stakeholders and partners, and this is carried out via frequent updates and papers submitted to key partners and stakeholders. A summary of key research and intelligence activities is provided below.

   
No City Left Behind?
(The geography of the recovery – and the implications for the coalition)

This report, written by The Work Foundation, focuses on how the UK’s cities are expected to recover from the recession. It gives significant support to universities and emphasises the importance of their role in our cities’ recoveries to 2020. Skills and innovation are regarded as playing a vital role in the recovery, and cities with wide skills bases and centres of innovation are likely to be amongst the strongest to recover. It also argues that the private sector should, and will, be the main driver for economic recovery, meaning that areas of high public sector employment are likely to face further challenges with regards to employment. To download this report please click here
 


NWUA Papers and Briefings

In its role as regional representative of the HE sector, NWUA has produced a number of papers for key regional political and strategic bodies. These can be downloaded below.

    NWUA has produced this report to highlight the ways in which North West HEIs have supported businesses and individuals affected by the economic recession and to underscore the extremely important role of the sector in driving sustained economic recovery. To download this report please click here (pdf).
 
 
  • Paper outlining the North West universities’ response to the economic downturn for the Joint Economic Commission (pdf)
  • Paper outlining the graduate offer in the North West for the Regional Skills and Employment Board (pdf)
  • Briefing on Universities’ Digital & Creative Capabilities for the Regional Minister (GONW) (pdf)
  • Briefing on Universities; Renewable Energy Capabilities for the Regional Minster (GONW) (pdf)
  • Briefing for the Joint Economic Commison on the NW HEI activity relating to the Low Carbon Economy (pdf)
  • Briefing for the Joint Commison on NW HEI activtiy relating to Advanced Manufacturing (pdf)
  • Briefing for the joint Economic Commison on NW HEI activity relating to Nuclear (pdf)
  • The HE offer in the North West - Presentation given to Jobcentre Plus and unionlearn staff (ppt)
  • The HE offer in the North West - Handout given to Jobcentre Plus and unionlearn staff (pdf)


HE Barometer

NWUA is required to collect and disseminate information on HEI activities developed or redesigned in response to the economic downturn. This takes the form of a HE Barometer, designed to provide HEFCE and other stakeholders with an overview of how the HE sector is responding to the economic downturn and what changes there have been in the demand for services from the sector. The information is then collated into a national report by HEFCE to be shared with the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), Universities UK and GuildHE. Both the Regional and National HE Barometers can be downloaded below



HE Activity Database

We are currently populating a database to better capture the full range of activities undertaken by our region’s universities, particularly that related to the exchange of knowledge and engagement with the community, businesses and the third sector. The database contains key information about projects and initiatives across a full range of categories from collaborative research, through continuing professional development, to business consultancy. Projects are searchable by project type, sub-region, date, institution and keyword, and the records will provide a useful reference tool to highlight the constructive role our universities play in the development of the region and the region’s economy.

Please contact Dr. Celia Brigg on cbrigg@nwua.ac.uk  or 0161 234 8880 if you would like to request a search of the database.

HEFCE also gathered national information on this type of activity in its Higher Education Business and Community Interaction (HEBCI) survey. The full data set for 2007/08 can be found on the HEFCE website here. Since 2008/09, responsibility for the HEBCI survey rests with the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Further details can be found here.



Graduate Recruitment and Retention

The economic recession has had a major impact on graduate recruitment, particularly the number of graduate vacancies available and the higher level of competition for each vacancy.

  • AGR: Graduate Recruitment Survey 2009 (Summary by NWUA)
  • High Fliers: The Graduate Market in 2009 (Summary by NWUA)
  • JCP information on the labour market - please click here to download any information