Leading Transformational Change
Sheffield Universities Explore Options For Working Together
Sheffield's two Universities have been awarded a Higher Education Funding Council for England grant to explore how they may be able to collaborate in areas of external engagement and research to help boost business growth in the Sheffield City region.
The aim of the £490,000 research project is to explore ways of strengthening collaboration and partnership between University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University to support the business strengths and aspirations of the Sheffield region. These new ways of collaborating will reflect the distinctive profile, identity and heritage of the two institutions.
This may include joint delivery of research and teaching provision and - in the longer term - the establishment of joint academic departments or institutes, as both Universities look to collaborate in ways that could help to support a sustainable future for each university, whilst also benefitting the City Region.
The project will build on the existing momentum for increased joint working within the City Region between various key stakeholders, including Sheffield City Council and the Chamber of Commerce, and the City´s two universities.
Current collaborations between the two Universities include the HEFCE-backed Economic Challenge Investment Fund programme addressing issues arising from the recession; the Innovation Leaders employer engagement workforce development programme, a Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care and a collaborative research project commissioned by Sheffield City Council on behalf of the City region responding to the Government´s "New Industry, New Jobs" agenda.
The new project, partly funded by HEFCE, will explore a range of business models and options which might be developed. These could cover specific project or programme based collaboration, or structural collaboration in academic areas where there is a strong mutual interest in meeting the needs of the City Region at a time of economic challenge.
The project will be championed by the two Vice-Chancellors.
Professor Philip Jones Vice-Chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University said:
"I believe that the time is right for this project because Sheffield has two strong and complementary universities and there is an appetite and momentum within the Sheffield City Region to build on existing good relationships and collaboration and to see the two universities working more closely together. This could result in a more strategic dialogue with partners in the City Region, including Sheffield City Council and the NHS, which will provide the foundation for closer and more imaginative partnership working across the region to address the joint challenges of the recession."
Professor Keith Burnett added:
"With a challenging funding landscape ahead, we are keen to explore innovative ways of collaborating between our two organisations – being able to shape our future rather than wait for changes to be dictated to us. We want to preserve our distinct identities, but identify where complementary activities can be brought together to the benefit of all."
The first stage of the project will involve examining potential areas of collaboration, and what business models can be developed to support joint-working. This will involve a wide range of colleagues across the institution. The Vice-Chancellor will personally be leading the project, supported by Dr Claire Baines, Academic Secretary and he is looking forward to hearing your views.
You can telephone Claire on 0114 2221211.
email : c.e.baines@sheffield.ac.uk
More information about the project will be published on this webpage as it develops.