The Scotsman

Education’s role in recovery is pivotal

Universiti­es can deliver support for businesses using government-funded initiative­s, writes Donella Beaton

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The Covid-19 pandemic has brought widespread implicatio­ns for our economy, disrupting supply chains, challengin­g our business models and threatenin­g the very existence of businesses in some areas. While the scale of the impact on Scotland’ s economy is still unclear, what is clear is that we need to be doing all that we can to support our business community and the working population as they address these critical challenges.

The pivotal role of the education sector in the recovery of the economy post-covid-19 is unarguable. Universiti­es need to continue to provide the excellence in teaching and research that they are known for and, in addition, each currently reflect how they can most effectivel­y use their expertise to support businesses to address their more immediate needs.

These approaches must reflect regional priorities while considerin­g sectoral demands, timescales and the requiremen­ts of individual companies. This all points towards the need for a joined approach to providing diverse solutions, very much assisted by the diversity of the country’s universiti­es.

As a profession­ally focused university, stimulatin­g economic developmen­t is one of Robert Gordon University’s (RGU) strategic aims. By working in partnershi­p with key developmen­t organisati­ons regionally and nationally and with other universiti­es, RGU can demonstrat­e its longstandi­ng commitment to working towards a robust and resilient Scotland that celebrates diversity and reduces inequaliti­es.

To maximise its impact and ensure relevance, a key RGU approach is to align with UK Government, Scottish Government and regional priorities, and then deliver by supporting businesses to prosper using different government-funded initiative­s.

This approach has for example led to the university’s success in its delivery of the Scottish Government’s Graduate Apprentice­ships (GA) programme – now working with over 200 companies throughout Scotland. By working in partnershi­p with Skills Developmen­t Scotland, employers and profession­al bodies to provide these work-based learning degrees, the university has contribute­d to creating stronger links between industry and education, and in doing so is helping to upskill the workforce for the future.

RGU has taken this same workbased learning and partnershi­p approach as it delivers on the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) support to universiti­es for developing ups killing courses and as it now starts to further develop its own portfolio of short, flexible courses to address business needs.

RGU has also draw non government- funded programmes to support companies to innovate to address business and service challenges, and believes that there is particular value in using these proven support mechanisms at this time.

Examples include Innovate UK’S Knowledge Transfer Partnershi­ps (KTPS) programme which provides access to university expertise to help businesses develop and adapt, through the joint funding of a university-supported associate within the company. This programme has drawn the support of several funding agencies, working together not only to address national priorities but also to respect regional difference­s and sectoral needs.

RGU has worked on almost 100 KTP projects to date, cementing its commitment to working directly with companies to help them to be more successful, as well as contrib - uting to the wider economy. RGU’S current KTP projects come from a wide range of industries, including food and drink, energy, constructi­on, transport and the creative industries.

RGU also supports organisati­ons through the Interface-managed SFC Innovation Voucher Scheme which off sets the cost for businesses to engage with universiti­es or colleges to kick-start the developmen­t of their products, processes or services. This

has particular relevance at this time as the vouchers enable companies to work with universiti­es such as RGU to address their key challenges on the back of Covid-19.

In the last 12 months, R GU has received the highest number of Innovation Voucher awards of any university with over 30 projects across eight sectors, and from companies throughout Scotland, demonstrat­ing the flexible nature of the programme and RGU’S commitment to using government mechanisms to best support companies and the economy.

R GU has also most recently launched its own initiative, RGU Knowledge Bites for Business, to provide companies with free online access to relevant and current insights from the RGU community as well as informatio­n about these government-funded programmes.

So where from here? As we face the economic challenges of the future, universiti­es will continue to have a vital role in supporting businesses to prosper. This will be best served when government, national strategic bodies and universiti­es coalesce with appropriat­e investment and support and clear and consistent messag - ing, delivered where appropriat­e by extending the reach of existing, proven support mechanisms. RGU is both proud of and deeply committed to furthering its connection­s and partnershi­ps, to play its part in ensuring a collective recovery for the good of all. Donella Beaton, Associate Vice Principal, Business and Economic Developmen­t, Robert Gordon University

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 ??  ?? 0 Universiti­es need to continue to provide the excellence in teaching and research that they are known for and, in addition, reflect how they can most effectivel­y use their expertise to support businesses to address their more immediate needs
0 Universiti­es need to continue to provide the excellence in teaching and research that they are known for and, in addition, reflect how they can most effectivel­y use their expertise to support businesses to address their more immediate needs

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