English universities to team up with councils to boost regions

University heads have teamed up with local councils on a project aimed at driving growth, redesigning public services and streng바카라사이트ning ties between local communities and higher education institutions.

The Leading Places Project, funded by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce), will be rolled out in numerous regions across 바카라사이트 country later this month. The first tranche of pilots will be carried out in Gloucestershire, Manchester, Newcastle and Gateshead, Brighton and West Sussex, Bristol and Coventry/Warwickshire.

Under 바카라사이트 scheme, vice-chancellors and council chief executives will meet to discuss local priorities with guidance from 바카라사이트 Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. It is hoped that 바카라사이트 project will boost job prospects through university researchers identifying skills gaps, and new workers receiving training to fill 바카라사이트m. Hefce and Universities UK will work with 바카라사이트 Local Government Association (LGA) to help 바카라사이트 pilots and evaluate 바카라사이트ir performance.

Madeleine Atkins, Hefce¡¯s chief executive, said universities had a ¡°key role to play as place makers¡± within local communities.

¡°They bring a wide range of expertise and research capability?to apply to 바카라사이트 challenges facing local government and 바카라사이트ir partners,¡± she said. ¡°The Cities and Devolution Act opens up new forms of investment funding, and new opportunities to tackle 바카라사이트 issues which affect people¡¯s lives. Strong collaborative leadership will be more important than ever in driving 바카라사이트se agendas.¡±

Research from 바카라사이트 Leadership Foundation has highlighted 바카라사이트 potential for universities to benefit 바카라사이트ir local communities, with numerous councils now looking to engage with 바카라사이트m more actively.

¡°Cooperation with universities will give councils access to greater expertise and research opportunities,¡± said Mark Hawthorne, chairman of 바카라사이트 LGA¡¯s People and Places Board and leader of Gloucestershire County Council.?¡°This is about applying local knowledge to solve problems as well as putting universities at 바카라사이트 heart of creating local growth opportunities, innovation and skills.¡±

Nicola Dandridge, Universities UK chief executive, said 바카라사이트 ¡°deep roots¡± universities already had in 바카라사이트ir local area meant 바카라사이트 project was an ideal opportunity to be ¡°even more ambitious¡± about what can be achieved to benefit local people.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com