M27 & southampton focus 15
University on a mission to integrate learning with real world experience
Southampton Solent University is committed to running a programme of activity geared to outstanding employment outcomes. A pioneer in breaking down barriers between higher education and industry, its ’Vision for 2020’ offers both intellectual rigour and professional expertise. In the first of a series of articles, Sue Hughes reports on meeting with the university’s vice-chancellor professor Van Gore
Southampton Solent is a university on a mission – to train and subsequently retain some of the best young minds to boost the regional economy. For this, it recruits practitioners in their fields rather than merely theoreticians. Graduate employment is no longer about jobs with blue chip companies, but encompasses a wider, ever-changing entrepreneurial element. In that respect, today’s graduates really do have a virtual world at their feet.
Professor Van Gore is highly involved with initiatives involving the creative industries – he is trying to get the city of Southampton to recognise that these play an important part in city regeneration, but to do so, they must be nurtured. Graduates move away, so one of the areas ’Vision for 2020’ is tackling is the fact that 70% of graduates from both Southampton Solent and the University of Southampton leave the area, yet 30% begin with a Hampshire postcode.
Recognising that education and communication corridors stimulate local economies, Southampton Solent is building a symbiotic relationship with employers by
analysing their needs, tailoring its courses to help them and as a higher education institution, developing as a prime economic driver for the region.
“This is a highly dynamic and vibrant university, with three niche areas: the creative industries, maritime studies and sport,“ explains Van Gore. “We’re good on theory and practice, but most importantly, in integrating real world experience with learning.“
Annual applications to this relatively new university have leapt from 7,000 in 2006 to nearly 17,000 in 2011; it now caters for 12,000 full-time students and almost 20,000 altogether.
The explicit concentration on building ’work’ into the learning process has taken Southampton Solent to a new level – something that is beginning to get noticed. Four years ago it set up a graduate intern scheme, paid in-house work for a year’s placement, and last year extended it to three- month placements with local organisations.
So how has this worked out? “The university acquired the funding and undertook the HR
admin – taking care of that side of things which can hamper a small business. We placed more than 90 and it was a pleasant surprise when 60 were offered full-time jobs – a striking endorsement of the calibre of our graduates,“ says Van Gore.
“Building on that success, our profile is increasing. The ’Vision for 2020’ comprises a host of initiatives designed to put us ahead of competitors. Employability is very, very important to us and our single largest area is the creative industries. It’s key to rapid growth during the past four to five years.“
The university has put in a bid to Ofcom for a new digital television licence, Solent Television, having set up a professionally run company and recruited media experts to help. “Much will depend on generating local advertising revenue – there is a commercial dimension to this, but as a university we would not be wishing to make a surplus, but looking to recover costs. Projects here have a commercial edge, with strong quality controls in place. The TV station bid would bring community benefits and we have superb equipment which we can use in-house until other partners come along.“
It’s not just the equipment which is first rate. Students have generated industry-standard broadcast content using a state-of-the-art outside broadcast truck. They have filmed a multitude of festivals, including Glastonbury in what will one day be seen as a unique historical archive; each year they film Cowes Week and Children in Need locally; they filmed Olympic 2012 sailing competitions along the coast at Weymouth and Portland in summer – not to mention Titanic centenary events in the city. “When the world’s focus was on Southampton, BBC world news ran 15 minutes of our Titanic content.“
He adds: “I am passionate about what the creative industries can add to small businesses, especially in web design and marketing, and with our Art School re-opening at Below Bar, you’ll find not only fine art, illustration and graphic design, but also CGI and animatronics.“
Students and visitors alike are aware of a tangible sense of pride in what is occurring as they are welcomed to the modern, immaculate campus. A seat of learning for a new era, Southampton Solent has a ’can do’ attitude.
Southampton Solent University unveiled a brand new interactive Career Coach in Guildhall Square recently, to inspire and inform young people about career opportunities.
Members of staff will visit more than 70 regional schools and colleges in the specially- designed vehicle, which comes complete with iPads, laptops and a 50-inch plasma screen, to give information and careers advice to pupils, as well as showcase the opportunities on offer through further and higher education.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – SEPTEMBER 2012
www.businessmag.co.uk
But more to the point – it’s actively ’doing’. Details:
www.solent.ac.uk
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