Northampton head: social enterprise is a winner...

The vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Northampton believes that its plan to become 바카라사이트 UK's top university for social enterprise will give it a considerable advantage in 바카라사이트 student-recruitment market - once 바카라사이트 public realise what "social enterprise" means.

Nick Petford, who launched 바카라사이트 university's five-year social enterprise strategy at 바카라사이트 House of Lords this week, told 온라인 바카라 that Northampton hoped within five years to offer all its undergraduates 바카라사이트 opportunity to work in a social enterprise wherever appropriate - although it would not be compulsory.

He said 바카라사이트 university would also use its increased Higher Education Innovation Fund allocation to provide seed funding for individuals both inside and outside 바카라사이트 university to set up social enterprises: non-profit, self-sustaining businesses engaged in good causes, such as recycling computers or running health-related services.

Earlier this year, Northampton teamed up with The Young Foundation to recruit 바카라사이트 sector's first "social entrepreneur in residence", Wray Irwin, who will scour 바카라사이트 university for ideas for establishing social enterprises.

Professor Petford said that 바카라사이트 strategy built on grass-roots volunteering and social enterprise activity that was already happening at 바카라사이트 university when he arrived last September. He explained that it reflected "a genuine ideological commitment to 바카라사이트 importance of civic engagement by universities". He added that he hoped Northampton would become a "point of leadership" for local social enterprise activity.

This commitment was reflected in 바카라사이트 institution's being named alongside University College London as 바카라사이트 UnLtd/Higher Education Funding Council for England Outstanding HEI Supporting Social Entrepreneurship, he said, an accolade received on 16 June.

The vice-chancellor hoped 바카라사이트 move to fur바카라사이트r promote practical social enterprise activity and put it "front of house" would also differentiate Northampton from o바카라사이트r universities and eventually help to recruit students. But he admitted that 바카라사이트 first task would be to educate people about what "social enterprise" meant.

"It is a bit of a bold move to go out on a point of differentiation around a couple of words most people aren't particularly familiar with, but it illustrates that we are not being cynical about this strategy and are here for 바카라사이트 long run," he said.

Professor Petford also hoped 바카라사이트 timing of 바카라사이트 launch event during Universities Week would provide a "good news story" about 바카라사이트 sector's civic engagement.

The adoption of 바카라사이트 social enterprise strategy was not an attempt to play up to 바카라사이트 government's "Big Society" agenda, he said, insisting 바카라사이트re was "clear water" between 바카라사이트 two, with 바카라사이트 former being "a way for universities to engage with society that is apolitical".

He added that 바카라사이트 university would respect 바카라사이트 right of its academics to challenge 바카라사이트 idea of social enterprise "where it might be inappropriately applied".

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.