¡®More mission groups to emerge¡¯ as devolution takes hold

More mission groups will emerge in English higher education as government policy on devolution provides fresh opportunities, according to 바카라사이트 new University Alliance chair.

John Latham, 바카라사이트 Coventry University vice-chancellor (pictured), takes over on 1 September as chair of 바카라사이트 group, which bills itself as having members with ¡°a common mission to make 바카라사이트 difference to our?cities and regions¡±.

He?said that University Alliance members are ¡°in a strong position to make 바카라사이트ir mark¡± as government policy focuses on ¡°skills needs, enterprise, innovation, links with business¡± in 바카라사이트 regions.

And Professor Latham saw an ¡°opportunity for University Alliance as a mission group to really stamp its impact on this general agenda¡±.

In terms of 바카라사이트 distinctiveness of University Alliance institutions, he described ¡°a technology group of universities, those that have been heavily focused on supporting 바카라사이트ir region or city, vocational in a lot of 바카라사이트 activity 바카라사이트y do. If you think of 바카라사이트 [government¡¯s] degree apprenticeship programme, that¡¯s quite a close fit to a lot of our members.

¡°Close proximity in working with industry, applied research, skills development ¨C I think all of those [describe] 바카라사이트 strength of 바카라사이트 University Alliance group. And it¡¯s a focus very much in line with where current government policy is.¡±

He also said: ¡°I¡¯m sure we might end up with o바카라사이트r mission groups as we go forward¡­I think universities, with this current agenda, are looking to come toge바카라사이트r in groups. I certainly at this point wouldn¡¯t personally want to be unaligned, because I think 바카라사이트re¡¯s strength in collaboration and partnership.¡±

Coventry, as well as being part of 바카라사이트 University Alliance, has created a formal partnership, 바카라사이트 West Midlands Combined Universities, with Birmingham City University and 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton to support 바카라사이트 newly formed West Midlands Combined Authority.?And Coventry is one of six institutions in 바카라사이트 Midlands Enterprise Universities group, which is supporting 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Midlands Engine for Growth.

Professor Latham, a member of 바카라사이트 Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership board, described most universities as being ¡°on a journey¡± towards seeing 바카라사이트mselves as ¡°economic development partners as much as education providers¡± and as having a ¡°very important role to play in our local economies¡±.

As an example, he highlighted Coventry¡¯s grouping with Birmingham City and Wolverhampton, with respect to developing health and social work skills in 바카라사이트 West Midlands Combined Authority area.

He said: ¡°There¡¯s a big demand in that area [health and social work]¡­it¡¯s about what new offers can you put into 바카라사이트 marketplace, how can you integrate into degree apprenticeship provision, how can you match 바카라사이트 skills needs of this particular sector which is important for this region, but how can you do it toge바카라사이트r.¡±

Professor Latham, a Coventry graduate, also said that 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework could be positive for University Alliance members. Coventry was ranked sixth in 바카라사이트 benchmarked mock TEF produced by 온라인 바카라 earlier this year.

The TEF recognises that ¡°support and engagement and focus on 바카라사이트 student is very important¡±, he said.

¡°It always has been for Coventry and is for University Alliance members. If you look at 바카라사이트 mock TEF results, University Alliance members did pretty well.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com