education & business roundtable 25
Building bridges across the Solent
The Business Magazine joined forces with lawyers Paris Smith, bankers Santander and accountants and business advisers Grant Thornton to host a roundtable discussion last month on the worlds of education and business – and their post-recessionary role working together to assist local economic recovery. Here, journalist John Burbedge reproduces selected observations from the event
Participants
Norman Armstrong Partner Grant Thornton
Peter Birkett CEO University of Southampton Science Park
Greg Collier Chairman Metroelectric plc
From left: Guy Whitaker, Andrew Heathcock, Dr David Ramsden, Jo Stark, Norman Armstrong, Leigh-Sara Timberlake, Greg Collier, Carol Pike, David Murray, Dr Mike Wilkinson, Michael Moores, Peter Birkett, Mike Donaldson and John Burbedge
Torpedoes end elasticated trousers for universities
David Murray sparked off discussion by highlighting a recent Times Higher Education article suggesting that too many universities and FE/HE bodies are operating with ”last century” cultures, and failing to be customer-facing or providing what the business world requires in terms of innovation, skills and human resources.
Jo Stark challenged that view in relation to Bournemouth University, but admitted that there was still transformation work to be done in the education sector with some institutions ”still just floating along”.
Publicly-funded institutions, along with any public sector area, he suggested, could get complacent because ”unlike the private sector, funding is fairly consistent, and these institutions come to expect a certain level of income. Every now and again, a torpedo comes across their bows, which makes them think. This has happened recently with the general election and the comprehensive spending review, which are now having a huge affect on the public sector. For universities, both CSR and changes to student fees are forcing universities to face radical change.”
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – JUNE 2011
Bournemouth University hasn’t waited for the torpedoes. Its preparations for the future began around five years ago with the arrival of a new vice-chancellor who foresaw a raising of the cap on tuition fees and a further reduction in funding from the public purse. At the time, Bournemouth stopped and reviewed its operations, questioning whether its progress was strategic or simply randomly organic. ”Our transformation caused some unrest but it was necessary for us to get to where we are now – focused and far more responsive to the needs of industry and those of our students.”
Guy Whitaker: ”Universities are evolving and the current revolution being imposed on them will at least force people to think more creatively and ambitiously about how they raise funds for their departments.”
Andrew Heathcock noted changes he had seen locally, including Bournemouth and Solent universities ’”reinventing themselves with fresh and business-focused courses”.
Continued overleaf
www.businessmag.co.uk
Mike Donaldson Relationship director Santander Corporate Banking
Andrew Heathcock Managing partner Paris Smith
Michael Moores Partner Paris Smith, commercial department
Carol Pike SVP and director corporate affairs aap3
Dr David Ramsden Research and development director Symetrica
Jo Stark Employee & employer engagement manager Bournemouth University
Leigh-Sara Timberlake City champion manager Business Southampton
Guy Whitaker CEO South East Business Innovation & Growth
Dr Mike Wilkinson Deputy vice chancellor Southampton Solent University
David Murray Managing director of The Business Magazine, and chair of the discussions.
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