Lead Institution: University of Exeter
Collaborating with: Petroc College, Weymouth College, Plymouth University, University of Bath, University of the West of England
This research project developed a range of initiatives at the institutional level that sought to engage engineering employers in HE level provision more effectively and sustainably. Web links to the six sub-projects carried out at four universities and two further education colleges in the South West as part of this overall project can be found towards to bottom right of this page.
Universities and employers potentially stand to gain many benefits from closer engagement. Indeed Universities and Further Education Colleges (FECs) already support a wide range of successful employer
Project partner meeting
engagement activity. The nature of the collaboration that exists between employers and universities is varied and includes: applied research in advanced technologies, in-company up-skilling of employees, bespoke collaborative degree programmes, science park developments, enterprise education, entrepreneurial support for staff and students, higher-level apprenticeships, and skills development of post-doctoral staff.
Research on HE-employer engagement emphasises the heterogeneity of the workforce development market - that it is not a single market but multiple markets, with differing requirements and responses (Bolden et al, 2008). The market for workforce development is thus complex and unpredictable. The policy environment for Higher Education (HE), following the Lambert Review (2003) and Leitch Review (2006), placed a greater requirement on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to understand better the demand for higher skills training from the adult, employed market.
Marchmont Observatory
This project therefore began from the premise that institutional knowledge of employer demand is often inadequate. The project thus aimed to:
It did this through:
Chris Evans
Project lead, University of Exeter
Hilary Todd
Project coordinator, University of Exeter
Cerian Ayres
Petroc College
Dr Barrie Cooper
University of Exeter
Dr Ross Kay
Weymouth College
Hilary Stevens
University of Exeter
Mark Stone
Plymouth University
Suzanne Maxwell
University of Bath
Wendy Fowles-Sweet
University of the West of England