Factsheet

Universities building tomorrow’s economy Our aim at University Alliance is to help build a strong future for UK universities by creating a positive and constructive space for debate and new ideas. We were set up by a group of innovative and enterprising universities from across the UK to tackle the big issues facing universities, people and the economy.

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Connecting Research and Growth Alliance universities are...

• Delivering world-class research • Generating real-world innovations • Collaborating for an enterprising economy • Championing postgraduate success

The University of Lincoln partnered with Siemens to establish the first new engineering school in the UK for more than 20 years.

Combining state-of-the-art R&D and teaching facilities, the new building enables students to work alongside Siemens engineers as part of their day to day university experience.

Cardiff Metropolitan University has worked with 5,000 companies and brought over 500 new products to market over the past 10 years.

Alliance universities have been in the business of meeting economic need for over 100 years, many established as institutes of engineering and design to meet the needs of the industrial revolution. Alliance universities have Over 250 distinct approach to combining science, research teams engineering and technology with design undertaking and the creative industries. They have a world-leading deep understanding of the industrial and research (4*) commercial strengths of their local economy through close connections with the world around them. Research at Alliance universities forms an essential part of the UK’s research and innovation landscape.

The University of Portsmouth has one of the leading groups in the next generation of cosmology research, which aims to uncover the mysterious nature of dark energy and dark matter.

The John van Geest Cancer Research Centre at Nottingham Trent University leads on interdisciplinary research into cancer detection, monitoring and immunotherapy.

The University of the West of England hosts The Centre of Excellence in Robotics, the largest academic centre for multidisciplinary robotics research in the UK. This collaborative partnership of over 100 academics and industry practitioners leads current thinking on service robotics, intelligent autonomous systems and bio-engineering.

For more information, contact Faye Taylor: faye@unialliance.ac.uk +44 (0)207 839 2757

Built and Natural Environment, at Glasgow Caledonian University, has been placed as the top department for research in Scotland and in the top quartile in the UK, with 60% of its research internationally excellent or world-leading.

The University of Salford has partnered with the BBC at MediaCity UK to provide vital professional development to support the £16bn digital and creative sectors in north-west England.

Kingston University is leading the way with its entrepreneurial expertise, producing the most graduate start-up companies of any higher education institution in the UK for the fourth year running.

Transforming Lives Alliance universities are...

• Central to social mobility • Creating the future workforce • Empowering Students • Nurturing entrepreneurs

With 80% of new jobs in high-skill areas it is vital that we have a system that enables all those who have the ambition and ability to succeed at university to do so. Our universities work closely with employers to provide over 50% of year long Over half of all work placements, and have a reputation for turnover and half addressing barriers to access and equipping of the jobs created by graduate start-ups graduates with the skills and abilities needed comes from Alliance to secure employment. They take a diverse graduate start-ups range of students and offer them a research and practice informed learning experience. This enhances their employability skills and, as a result, Alliance graduates have some of the highest rates of graduate-level employment in the UK.

Coventry University has more than 12,000 undergraduates taking accredited ‘Add+vantage’ modules each year. Developed with employers, these modules help students to gain work-related knowledge, skills and experience.

The University of South Wales is working with British Airways to combine technical training with the enhanced career prospects of a university degree. Engineers graduate from South Wales with a BSc (Hons) degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering and accredited industry-standard EASA training.

Engineering staff at British Airways also have the opportunity to study academic modules from the University.

Recognising the barriers for non-traditional students in securing employment in the legal profession, Northumbria University set up its innovative integrated law degrees. They provide extensive support for students, with local firms involved throughout the program, to give graduates invaluable experience and to break down barriers to entering employment.

Liverpool John Moores University’s World of Work Programme ensures students are building the skills employers want and creates employer links for students who might not otherwise be able to access them. Over 7,000 students are currently completing different stages of the World of Work certificate with 275 employer guest speakers making a curriculum contribution in 2012/13.

Greenwich University currently has 2,500 learners completing its Skills for Independent Learning course which develops study skills, independent learning skills and critical thinking. This is critical to ensuring students can access higher education and go on to succeed there and in their future careers.

With 70% of all courses professionally accredited,the University of Bradford collaborates with businesses including Microsoft, Nissan, the NHS, Game Republic, Jaguar Land Rover and Johnson & Johnson. They take a diverse range of students and offer them a research-informed, entrepreneurial and highly focused learning experience.

For more information, contact Daisy Hooper: daisy@unialliance.ac.uk +44 (0)207 839 2757

The Venture Matrix Programme at Sheffield Hallam University brings together students and external organisations to tackle real life challenges and gain practical work experience.

Focusing on the future Alliance universities are...

• Leading future thinking • Campaigning for sustainable funding • Globally-minded • Committed to responsible regulation

The central role of universities within our innovation-based economy is a significant focus for University Alliance. We know that our universities are providing more than just degrees - they are critical to the future growth of the economy.

With over As major deliverers of highly employable half a million and enterprising gradautes, Alliance students - 25% of all universities are critical to our changing undergraduates - and economy. Their innovative, global and top employment rates, entreprenruial approach is enabling Alliance universities are a major force in individuals and communities to adapt the economy to new opportunites and challenges by building their creativity, agility, resilience, flexibility and global presence. Alliance universities have a broad base of some of the most selective courses in the country to support this.

Manchester Metropolitan University is the largest campus-based university in the UK with 37,000 students and is one of the largest providers of science, engineering and technology education in the UK. Teesside University’s Computer Games Programming BSc has the top entry requirement (AAA). The course is one of only a handful of Skillset accredited courses in the country and has a world class research record, with 10% of the last RAE submission judged internationally leading and 45% internationally excellent.

Bournemouth University’s Computer Visualisation and Animation BA is the top course of its kind in the UK. It has the top entry requirement (AAA) and is accredited by Skillset, the Creative Industries' Sector Skills Council.

10% of all known planets were discovered by University of Hertfordshire astronomers. The Science and Technology Research Institute contains world-leading and internationally excellent research from a wide range of scientific and technological disciplines.

Oxford Brookes University’s Architecture course is listed in the top five by the 100 top architectural practices in the UK. Former students have gone on to work for top names including Norman Foster, Nicholas Grimshaw and Zaha Hadid.

Plymouth University houses Europe’s largest Marine Institute and has won the Queen’s Anniversary prize in recognition of world-class marine and maritime research, teaching and training.

Researchers at the University of Huddersfield are developing an innovative low carbon nuclear technology that is inherently safer than conventional systems, sustainable and cost effective.

For more information, contact Liz Shutt: liz@unialliance.ac.uk +44 (0)207 839 2757