News

Business, People, Places, learning from the NWDAʼs Experience, published by the North West Development Agency in June 2011 is designed to help share experience, good practice and learning, for the benefit of leaders, policy makers and practitioners in the post-RDA economic development landscape.

To view a copy of the publication please click here

Important Information for NWUA Members

NWUA were successful in obtaining funding through the HEFCE funded National HE STEM Programme to develop demand led STEM CPD Provision. The CPD provision should be aimed at those in the current workforce with no previous experience of HE who are looking to up-skill or re-skill in STEM related area. For the purpose of this project STEM includes physics, chemistry, engineering and maths (including statistics). The project is looking to fund the development of a range of CPD modules across the subject areas which meet the needs of employers and involve employers throughout the development, informing curriculum content, delivery and assessment. All projects should also seek to involve the relevant SSC and Professional Bodies. The attached document provide full details of the project and funding available, as well as detailing the current priorities for development as articulated by SSCs, Regional Cluster Bodies, Professional Bodies and employers. The fund is open to bids led by HEIs, but these can involve other providers including FECs and Private Providers if the lead HEI feels this would add value to the activity. All bidders should contact NWUA to discuss their ideas and so that we can help facilitate contacts with SSCs and Professional Bodies if these are not already in place. Please contact either Celia Brigg or (0161 2348891) Charlie Ellis or (0161 2348889) and we would be happy to meet with you and discuss your bid.
All bids should be submitted on the attached application form to Charlie Ellis by 5pm on July 18th 2011. Applications received after this time will not be accepted, no extensions will be given to this deadline due to the tight timescales of the project as a whole. Hard copy submissions are not required, all bids received will be acknowledged. Please circulate this within your institution to any colleagues you feel would be interested in such developments.

The NW STEM CPD Priorities can be Downloaded here (PDF)
The application form can be Downloaded here (Word)

New research uncovers depth of relationship between higher education and SMEs in the North West

Driving innovation and growth: Small firms in the North West report university partnership success New research uncovers depth of relationship between higher education and SMEs in the North West Almost three-quarters (73%) of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the North West have worked with a university or higher education institution (HEI) in the past year, according to research published today by the Institute of Directors and Universities UK. The research, part of Universities Week 2011, reveals wide ranging engagement driving innovation and employment as well as boosting local economies. Key to those engagements are the areas of professional development, research and working with current and recent students. Research was obviously a key area for north western SMEs with 12% participating in collaborative research; 12% contracting a HEI to conduct research; and 10% using specialist equipment and facilities. In addition, SMEs based in the North West clearly seemed to be benefitting from the 3.7million days of Continuing Professional Development courses delivered by universities on a national basis annually, with 24% attending lectures, conferences and public events; 5% working with universities to personally undertake professional development; and 14% using them to provide bespoke professional development for their employees.

A copy of the press release can be Download here (PDF)

The BBC North Partnership Award for Achievement went to The School of Arts, Media & Education at the University of Bolton for the ‘Writers’ Lab at Bolton’ project. Their entry was specially commended for its reach, its high standards, its ambitions and its relevance.

For more information please click here

North West Universities Association (NWUA) are delighted to announce the North West Higher Level Skills Partnership (HLSP) has been awarded the Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative at the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2010.

The press release can be download here (PDF).


A copy of the certificate can be download here (PDF) .