Boosting opportunities in the health sector

Teesside University has forged a new strategic partnership with a local NHS mental health trust to bolster opportunities for graduates in the health sector.

Teesside University has forged a new strategic partnership with a local NHS mental health trust to bolster opportunities for graduates in the health sector.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Teesside University and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) builds on successful joint working and will see both organisations working collaboratively on a broad range of initiatives to help support students and graduates within the healthcare sector, as well as support the transformation of practice.

TEWV provides mental health and learning disability services across Teesside, County Durham, Darlington and North Yorkshire.

The MoU between the two organisations will foster joint activities across multiple areas and will include:

• Supporting placement opportunities for student nurses and allied health professionals.
• Promoting job, placement, internship, and other work experience opportunities to students, graduates, and alumni.
• Developing collaborative education and training programmes within TEWV, including CPD and apprenticeships.
• Identifying funding opportunities for collaborative research.
• Establishing joint initiatives and interventions to support the broader needs of the region.

The partnership with TEWV supports the delivery of Teesside University’s mission to provide the training and skills needs for regional and national employers in the health sector.

The University has just opened BIOS, a £36.9m facility to help train the next generation of health professionals featuring high-quality, leading-edge laboratories for sciences and clinical subjects including anatomy, pharmacy, microbiology, chemistry, earth sciences and food science students.

Professor Tim Thompson, Dean of the School of Health & Life Sciences at Teesside University, said: "We are delighted with this collaborative partnership and it builds upon our strong and thriving relationship with the NHS.

“By working strategically with TEWV, we aim to not only provide our students with an outstanding learning experience, but also to significantly elevate their employment prospects, helping to create a future full of opportunities.”

Brent Kilmurray, chief executive at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This new partnership is a great opportunity to build on our existing relationship with Teesside University, which already includes collaborating on a UK-first research project.

“We are looking forward to working closely with the university to support placements and job opportunities for students and graduates, and continue to promote the benefits of working within the NHS, and for our local communities.”

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