New funding for pan-Wales Strategic Insight Programme
We are pleased to announce that further funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) has been secured to expand the Strategic Insight Programme. All 11 Welsh Higher Education Institutions are now collaborating on this new pan-Wales phase of funding, to extend and further develop the positive experiences of the Strategic Insight Programme.
Full contact information for each of the 11 HEIs will be made available shortly, and applications will be made available for placements for the period ending July 2012.
Please contact admin@siprogramme.org.uk if you require further information.
Collaborative partners:
Aberystwyth University
Bangor University
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Cardiff University
University of Glamorgan
Glyndwr University
Open University
Swansea Metropolitan University
Swansea University
UW Newport
UW Trinity St David
An independent evaluation of SIP was carried out by OldBell3 between April and June 2011. The evaluation concluded that as a direct result of SIP, there has been a marked increase in the proportion of staff now engaged in Innovation and Engagement activities within each partner University.
The evaluation confirmed that SIP placements included many examples of beneficial collaborative projects between Higher Education Institutions and host organisations, with a wide variety of projects including joint funding applications, joint development of short courses and liaison regarding student placements and student mentoring. Check out the Case Study Pages of this Site for more examples by clicking here.
The evaluation also found that the Strategic Insight programme has made a contribution in consistently providing a greater experience of operating externally at a strategic level to Higher Education Institution staff.
It was noted that SIP had played an important role in enhancing participants’ understanding of industry/the Higher Education sector and to supporting the continued personal development of Higher Education Institution staff.
The report made seven key recommendations:
- That the scheme be continued and that good practice from the SIP and Reverse SIP models be transferred to the other;
- That the SIP be rolled-out to other Higher Education Institutions, particularly those with low levels of staff engaged in Innovation and Engagement activities, and should funds permit, on a pan-Wales basis;
- That the criteria adopted for the awarding of SIP funds be tightened and prioritised towards new Higher Education Institution recruits, staff who have not undertaken previous SIP placements and staff who have no previous Innovation and Engagement experience;
- That the Programme stimulate greater joint working between participating Higher Education Institutions in Innovation and Engagement work and that the criteria that currently restricts staff from undertaking placements at educational institutions be reviewed;
- That the funding made available per SIP placement be maintained at its current level but that a lower funding cap for Reverse SIP placements be explored;
- That an appropriate level of post-placement support for funded placements be implemented;
- That each Higher Education Institutions’ Commercial/Enterprise Services department attempts to capitalise upon the additional pool of Higher Education Institution staff who have gained some Innovation and Engagement experience via the SIP.
09.30 – 13.00 on Thursday 23rd June 2011, Cardiff City Stadium
Recognising the value of universities engaging with issues affecting the wider community and working with organisations outside education, the Strategic Insight Programme (SIP) was launched to help university staff develop and build relationships with external partner organisations.
To celebrate the broad range of these successful projects, we are pleased to invite you to our event on Thursday 23rd June 2011 at Cardiff City Stadium, which will showcase the impacts and benefits of these collaborations and will consider how such successes can be further built upon into the future.
Hosted by the collaborative partners involved in SIP (University of Glamorgan, University of Wales Institute Cardiff and the University of Wales Newport) you will find out how the SIP involved Universities in Wales are undertaking mutually beneficial partnerships with all types of organisations in the private, public or not-for-profit sectors.
This event is sponsored by HEFCW and will include;
- Keynote speakers
- Brief presentations from successful collaborations
- Interactive workshops exploring barriers to engagement and identifying workable solutions
- Networking lunch
- Stadium tour (optional)
The event will be a fantastic opportunity to discover the benefits of building strategic partnerships and provides the perfect opportunity to identify what the universities are able to offer you and your organisations.
University staff will gain a better understanding of how external collaborations can enhance their work life in the areas such as research opportunities, developments in their subject area and networking.
The venue is the magnificent Cardiff City Stadium with ample free parking. Registration is from 09.00 and full programme details will be issued shortly.
To ensure your place at this event, simply send an e-mail with your name, title, organisation and a yes/no as to whether you would like to take the stadium tour to admin@siprogramme.org.uk
