…rience that universities must work to limit or eliminate. But none of this runs along the lines of the age of the institution, its size, or its mission group membership. The real problem is the idea that there’s a single way of judging excellence – something the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) – at its best – could confront. But long-held views about prestige are hard to shift and pressure from the old elites is slowly softening TEF’s sharper…
…ing 129% higher than those with below upper secondary education. “The good news is that this positive message is getting through to students with demand for university places remaining high. However, it is important that universities do not become complacent. We need to continue to make every effort, in partnership with business and the professions, to secure employment for recent graduates. “Investing in higher education pays off in the long run,…
…the future in his remarks. He said that the event was highlighting a ‘good news story’. We can not only celebrate that spring appears to have (finally) arrived but, as the stories of our graduates show, we can celebrate new business growth as graduates are starting and growing their businesses across the UK. He urged all those listening in (MPs, business leaders, university leaders, entrepreneurs, other interested individuals and now you) to do wh…
…rences attended by Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), in Birmingham, David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities and Skills, in Manchester and John Denham, previously Shadow Secretary of State for BIS, in Liverpool. Party conferences are just one forum in which University Alliance are working with decision makers from all political parties. We will be continuing to have a healthy dialogue with politic…
…all its forms can be both life saving and dangerous. In many areas of the world, drinking water is scarce, and the water that is consumed can carry sometimes fatal diseases. University Alliance, we’re developing research that is equipping communities in the UK and globally to cope with the effects of water damage caused by flooding and poor water infrastructure, and to help them find safe, clean drinking water. Reducing the impact of flooding on…
…the impacts of the crisis, and it is the duty of policy makers across the world to input changes that will ensure a more sustainable, carbon neutral future. At the Alliance, we’re already thinking about how we can make a smooth and effective transition into a environmentally conscious post-COVID economy, through energy policy, employability and green skills. Building employment opportunities and eco-furniture at Coventry University’s FabLab Pos…
…nomous Systems Hub, a programme that supports UK researchers in delivering world-leading best practices for the design, regulation and operation of socially beneficial autonomous systems that are trusted in practice by individuals, society and government. Professor Farshid Amirabdollahian, Professor of Human-Robot Interaction at the University of Hertfordshire, commented: “Previous studies have found Kaspar to be useful in a wide range of interven…
…ectrometry to identify ‘supercomplex’ mixtures such as those created when crude oil breaks down in the sea, the team attracted a €2 million Advanced Investigators Award from the European Research Council in 2009. This funded the cost of cutting-edge laboratory equipment which could be applied to a range of problems such as helping oil companies understand how and why their pipes become blocked. Working with the University of Birmingham, they also…
…Professor Steve West, Chair of University Alliance, has been featured in Chemistry World in a story about Greg Clark replacing David Willetts as the new Universities and Science Minister. In the article, Steve welcomed the appointment. ‘The coming months will be critical in thinking about the long-term sustainability and global positioning of UK higher education and we look forward to working with Mr Clark and his team,’ he said in a statement.”…
…and has spent many years attending study groups with industry all over the world, where real unsolved industrial problems are studied by groups of mathematicians. Alistair’s research focuses on two main areas, namely the flow of glass, food and other complex fluids and flow and deformation in human eyes. Alistair’s external involvements include close connections with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and other funding…