Transcript Slide 1

ACCESS TO MASTERS
EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY – BUSINESS THEMATIC FORUM
NOVEMBER 21 –22, UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE, THE NETHERLANDS
Howard Burt / Stephen Davies, Swansea University
WEST WALES & THE VALLEYS
Lowest GVA of any of the UK’s
regions.
ESF West Wales & the Valleys
Convergence Programme:
•Priority 3
Improving skills levels and the
adaptability of the workforce
•Theme 2
Skills for the Knowledge Economy
CONTEXT
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The Welsh Government supports Projects that aim to provide economic and
social benefit to Wales, embracing the six priority sectors set out in the
‘Economic Renewal: a new direction’ and ’ One Wales’ policies.
– Information & Communication Technologies
– Energy & Environment
– Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
– Creative Industries
– Life Sciences
– Financial & Professional Services
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Three new additions, (Sept 2011)
• Construction, Tourism, Food & Farming
HIGHER SKILLS WALES
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4 Projects:
– Access To Masters (ATM)
– Foundation Degrees
– Knowledge Economy Skills
Scholarships (KESS)
– Work Based Learning
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3 Project Leads
10 University Partners
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5 years of provision
Unique in that uses ESF funding for
higher skills development
All Wales approach
Shared governance and oversight
Combined project value of
£104m/€118m;
Overall target of 10,770 participants
What is a Foundation Degree?
The Foundation Degree Project is led by Glamorgan University.
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Provide access to Higher Education for those living in/and or
working across the Welsh Convergence Area
Raise standards in knowledge, skills and workplace competencies
in Welsh businesses
Give participants the opportunity to complete an alternative
qualification to undergraduate degrees and HNDs, giving hands-on
work experience and to help develop practical skills to enrich their
careers
Tailored to meet the needs of the workplace
Contribute to the Leitch review target of 40% of the Welsh
population qualified at Level 4 and above
What is KESS?
The Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS) Project is led by
Bangor University
A portfolio of ESF supported collaborative research projects and high
level skills training undertaken with businesses based in the
Convergence area of Wales and linked to the 6 Welsh priority R&D
sectors:
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KESS Mini (Research Masters)
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KESS Maxi (PhD)
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Postgraduate Skills Award - all KESS scholars undertake research,
business and innovation skills training as part of their scholarships
What is Work Based Learning?
The Work Based Learning Project is led by Glamorgan University.
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Provide access to Higher Education for those living in/and or
working across the Welsh Convergence Area
Raise standards in knowledge, skills and workplace competencies
in Welsh businesses
Flexible delivery in small bite sized modules
Progression routes for those who want to re-enter HE
Tailored to meet the needs of the workplace
Contribute to the Leitch review target of 40% of the Welsh
population qualified at Level 4 and above
Access to Masters (ATM) is a Convergence ESF programme led by
Swansea University, in partnership with 7 other Welsh Universities. At
the launch of this programme the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn
Jones, said "Access to Masters represents a crucial step in ensuring that
high calibre students are equipped with the skills required to take up
employment in local businesses.”
OBJECTIVES & DELIVERABLES
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ESF supported collaborative research project with a total value of
£20.5/ €24.5 million.
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Taught Masters skills training for 1305 participants.
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Linked to businesses based in the Convergence area of Wales:- Micro
Companies, SMEs, Large Companies and 3rd and Public Sector
Organizations are all eligible project partners
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Up-skilling participants to enter Wales’ priority R&D sectors:- ICT,
Energy & Environment, Advanced Materials & Manufacturing,
Creative Industries, Life Sciences, Financial & Professional Services.
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Low cost for participating companies: £1000 / €1165 p.a. ‘in kind’
contribution
HOW DOES ATM WORK ? - TAUGHT PROGRAMME
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Participating students must be resident in the Convergence Region, and be
eligible to work in the region following graduation
Minimum entry requirement BA/BEng/BSc 2:2
Taught programme of 120 UK credits over two semesters
Courses chosen/modified to fit with WG Priority Sectors
Where possible, courses include modules taught, and assessed, by external
(industrial/commercial) company staff (current or recently retired)
HOW DOES ATM WORK? - TAUGHT PROGRAMME
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Courses/modules informed by Industrial Steering Committees
External lecturers (current or recently retired industrial staff)
30 credit Group Design Project module with Industrial supervisor
Cross-disciplinary modules for generic skills, eg entrepreneurship, strategic
project management
HOW DOES ATM WORK? - DISSERTATION
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Following successful completion of the taught element, students undertake a
3 month dissertation (60 UK credits) on a collaborative project with a
sponsoring company
Project Proposals are compiled by Company and University representatives
Participant CVs are matched with Project Proposals
The sponsoring Company must be based in the Convergence Region.
SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING STRUCTURE
34%
ESF
Company (in kind)
60%
6%
University Match (staff
time + overheads)
CURRENT STATUS (2009-11)
Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
21%
31%
Creative Industries
Energy and Environment
7%
Financial and Professional Services
3%
5%
33%
Information and Communication Technologies
Life Sciences
CURRENT STATUS (2009-11)
9%
14%
7%
Charity / Third Sector
Large Companies
Public Sector
20%
50%
SMEs
Micro SMEs
TESTIMONIALS
“The Access to Masters Scheme has been invaluable to our business, it allowed us to understand
and connect new products to new markets; opening up a new avenue of growth”
Mr Ian Mortimer,
General Manager, Eclipse Medical Innovations
The Access to Masters scheme has allowed Calon to benefit from the talents of bright young
masters students and also the experience of their supervisors. At the same time Calon has been
able to give the students an insight into the world of a cutting edge technology company and
valuable industrial experience at the start of their careers.
Graham Foster
Technical Director, Calon Cardio-Technology Ltd
TESTIMONIALS
I just wanted to drop you a short note on the project carried out by Roberto Morujo.
Roberto made a great effort in completing this project. He has given us a good paper study of the
background of data marking and given us a clear idea of what and what is not possible and he’s
left us with a clear idea of what the next steps are to make something commercially viable for the
company. I’ve been very impressed by Roberto’s work ethic it’s refreshing to see what can be
achieved in a short time by a motivated individual.
Paul Taylor, Spectrum Technologies, Bridgend
“We found the assistance offered under the ‘Access to Masters Scheme’ to be both timely and
beneficial, enabling an avenue for research to be evaluated which would otherwise have not been
pursued. The student was supported by very capable university staff that both facilitated the
process and provided in depth technical support. We look forward to future collaborative
projects.”
Dr Chris Spacie, Technical Director, Morgan AM&T
TESTIMONIALS
"Acuitas Medical was the industrial partner on an Access to Master's project with a student from
the Medical Physics department of Swansea University's School of Medicine. The student's
project was of great benefit and interest to us in our development efforts and, along with the
assistance his research provided to the company, we enjoyed the added benefit of the help and
direction provided by the academic supervisor on the project. In our current product development
activities, we often reference the student's (extremely well written) project report. The benefit of
the project to us is ongoing also, as we hired the student into full time employment with the
company immediately following completion of his degree."
Kristin James, PhD EE
Director of Clinical Studies
Acuitas Medical
SUSTAINABILITY
• Continuation of activity post 2014
• Changing how Universities engage with employers and
deliver higher-level skills
• Knowledge and Skills exchange
• Impact and a lasting legacy to the Convergence area
• Transnational Opportunities
DIOLCH YN FAWR / THANK YOU
www.higherskillswales.co.uk