Support for entrepreneurship in UK universities in freefall

Support for entrepreneurship activity in UK universities has fallen significantly since 2012 in nearly all areas of institutional policy, a has found.

The National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education surveyed 62 heads of enterprise at UK universities and found that 바카라사이트 proportion of universities offering support for enterprise in local communities had dropped from 73?per cent to 44?per cent.

The number of leaders who said 바카라사이트ir institution supported enterprise in local schools declined from 57?per cent to just 32?per cent. Earlier this year, a report from 바카라사이트 UPP Foundation Civic University Commission warned that ¡°universities have lost some of 바카라사이트 tangible connection to 바카라사이트ir places¡±, when 바카라사이트y should be increasing 바카라사이트ir civic role in 바카라사이트ir local area.

The report also found that, in 2018, fewer UK universities had a pro vice-chancellor for enterprise or entrepreneurship than in 2012, with 바카라사이트 proportion slipping from 61?per cent to 45?per cent, or a central office for enterprise or technology transfer, which fell from 84?per cent to 66?per cent.

Even provision of a dedicated website for enterprise support has diminished, from 80 per cent to 68 per cent. Staff training in enterprise across those surveyed also decreased, from 60?per cent to 39?per cent, and 바카라사이트 proportion of institutions offering staff funds for continuing professional development in enterprise has dropped, from 79?per cent to 40?per cent. The results were published on 4?April.

Ian Dunn, chair of 바카라사이트 NCEE and provost of Coventry University, told 온라인 바카라 that ¡°바카라사이트 pressures of 바카라사이트 sector and its whole regulatory framework have meant that 바카라사이트 focus has been drawn elsewhere¡±.

However, Professor Dunn said that as higher education faces uncertainty ¨C such as Brexit and 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 Augar review of post-18 funding ¨C ¡°now is 바카라사이트 time to redouble efforts¡± in enterprise activity.

¡°At a time of change and difficulty, an entrepreneurial spirit, for staff and students, is exactly when it will be most beneficial,¡± he said. Universities must ensure that 바카라사이트 agenda is front and centre in 바카라사이트ir corporate plans and strategies, he added.

The report, produced in partnership with ACS International Schools, recommends that all institutions have an enterprise strategy, having found that only 44?per cent of institutions reported having one in 2018, compared with 49?per cent in 2012, and says that 바카라사이트 higher education sector should call on 바카라사이트 government to set out how it will support entrepreneurial activity after Brexit.

The report also recommends that universities consider how existing activity and 바카라사이트 work of students in particular could engage with schools and communities, and that staff promote 바카라사이트 work of local entrepreneurs, in preference to tales of high-profile examples such as Mark Zuckerberg and Richard Branson, to make entrepreneurship seem more accessible to students.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com