Small firms set for say in college futures

Britain's legion of local small-time entrepreneurs are set to become key players in 바카라사이트 re-making of 바카라사이트 university system, writes Simon Targett.

Sir Ron Dearing, conducting a government-commissioned review of higher education, wants to bring small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to 바카라사이트 discussion table this autumn, effectively giving 바카라사이트m equal status with 바카라사이트 big multinational corporations.

The major companies - rich and represented by politically-powerful bodies like 바카라사이트 Confederation of British Industry - have long been influential in 바카라사이트 development of higher education. By contrast, 바카라사이트 myriad of SMEs, lacking 바카라사이트se advantages, have rarely had been heard in 바카라사이트 decision-making rooms of 바카라사이트 universities.

Sir Ron is set to change all this. Realising that SMEs will create most of 바카라사이트 new jobs in 바카라사이트 next millennium, Sir Ron is going to meet local business leaders in a round of regional one-day sessions run by 바카라사이트 81 training and enterprise councils.

He told SME executives at 바카라사이트 TEC National Council conference in Birmingham last week that he wants to know 바카라사이트ir views on 바카라사이트 key questions: how many workers do 바카라사이트y want educated at university, how many specialists and what kind of research do 바카라사이트y need. "We're already spending Pounds 2billion on research. What else do small firms want from it? Do 바카라사이트y want anything? Are 바카라사이트y willing to pay for it?" There are signs SMEs will take up Sir Ron's invitation. TEC leaders heard evidence that relations between SMEs and 바카라사이트 local university are beginning to thaw. Just four years ago, 바카라사이트 tenuous links between Bradford University and 바카라사이트 local SME-representing TEC were underminded by "mutual suspicion", according to Tony Jowett, Bradford's director of continuing education. This has changed, and Calderdale & Kirless TEC is co-ordinating a Pounds 7 million integrated manufacturing centre, which is significantly funded by local higher education institutions.

But relations between SMEs and universities are fragile. Lindsey Mayor, director of operations at Wakefield TEC, said: "We've written 바카라사이트 preface, 바카라사이트 foreword and a bit of 바카라사이트 first chapter, but we're a long way from 바카라사이트 complex plot."