The Northern way to support science and engineering

Eight northern universities have come together to create a virtual Centre for Professional Excellence for Advanced Science, Engineering and Technology (CPE-ASET). The move aims to provide new professional development services in areas of advanced science, engineering and technology industries not currently catered for.

Funded by the Northern Way Growth Fund to the tune of £500,000, the CPE is led by the University of Teesside, and developed with regional universities' association in the North West, North East and Yorkshire. Partners include the universities of Central Lancashire, Chester, Huddersfield, Hull, Liverpool, Northumbria and Sunderland.

For the next 12 months, the eight universities will explore the potential for the Centre for Professional Excellence and look for gaps in the market and whether niche sectors could benefit from professional development services.

The new initiative is in response to concerns that some new and emerging areas of science, engineering and technology are not adequately supported by existing programmes and providers of professional development services - and that this is holding back the contribution that these sectors can make to the economy.

Lead academic, Professor Brian Hobbs, Dean of the University of Teesside’s School of Science and Technology, said: “This centre is an exciting new concept which harnesses the expertise of eight universities across a broad geographical area covering the whole of the North of England.

“Knowledge based businesses and public sector organisations utilising state of the art science, technology and engineering have a key part to play in the economic development of the North.

“The centre covers a wide range of these key areas and will develop and pilot innovative and accessible high level courses to meet the professional development needs of senior staff.“

The Northern Way particularly wants to help and support early and mid career professionals in building their knowledge and skills and maximise the value that they add.

The collaboration will work with employers across the North to provide demand-led, flexible learning opportunities in applied science disciplines. This includes:

• biomedical sciences
• nanotechnology
• engineering design
• product design and manufacturing
• investigative sciences.

Other disciplines could also include:

• environmental engineering
• digital engineering, and
• medical technology.

Eleven pilot projects have already been designed and will be up and running soon. Each will establish exactly which areas of science, engineering and technology are not adequately provided with professional development services and test whether there is adequate market demand.

The Centre for Professional Excellence will then look at plugging the gaps by providing innovative courses and other knowledge or skills transfer activities designed specifically to meet defined industry or sector needs. These flexible courses will be available to employers across the North.

The aim is to develop 20 new courses and enlist 200 new learners by March 2008, with the aim of being self sustaining beyond that date.

David Sanderson, who leads on innovation for The Northern Way, said: “Once established, the CPE will enhance the performance of professionals, leading to higher added value business activity, and contribute to closing the wealth gap with the rest of the UK.

“With this innovative work, we are demonstrating that the North can sort out its own problems and grow its knowledge economy, thus strengthening our case for further investment from the private and public sectors in the future.”

Keith Burnley, Executive Director of the North West Universities Association, said: “This is an excellent example of the way in which universities are working together to develop a world class knowledge economy within and across the three northern regions. The North has a strong and diverse university sector with a real commitment to work together to support businesses, communities and individuals in the Northern Way area.”

Project manager Kevin Ions, from the Teesside Management Centre at the University of Teesside, said: “This is a very exciting project and we’ll be trying some innovative approaches to flexible learning that have never been done before.

“For the first time employers and employees in need of, say, courses in forensic science or nanotechnology in the North East will be able to access learning opportunities in the North West or Yorkshire and Humber.”

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