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Postgraduate funding must address the demands of employers
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"08/03/2010
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Funding for postgraduate study in the UK should support more employer-focused provision according to a new report from university think-tank million+.
A new study, A Postgraduate Strategy for Britain, argues that distribution of postgraduate funding has to respond to the needs and demands of business and the public sector in order to support the UK's economy and strengthen the higher education sector in an international market.
In the report, million+ presents a series of recommendations based on research from Coventry University, including:
• Research and funding councils should reward and encourage universities to develop postgraduate work placements and flexible provision that is suited to business and employers.
• The Technology Strategy Board should provide more timely responses to Knowledge Transfer Partnership applications.
• A fairer share of funding should be used to support innovation in postgraduate provision in new subject areas and in emerging markets that are vital for the economy.
Postgraduate provision offers employers the benefits of advanced higher level skills in the workforce, and increased collaboration and exchange of knowledge, research and facilities. Modern universities are also leading the way in curriculum innovation in new markets such as communications, media, digital technology, business and administration.
Modern universities have been at the forefront of supporting employers through postgraduate provision. In 2007/08 they delivered 53% of all CPD, the equivalent of 1.76 million learner days. Modern universities also carried out nearly 34,000 contracts supporting knowledge exchange with businesses and had over 60% of total contracts with SMEs in 2007/08.
"Modern universities have frequently taken the lead in initiatives to improve the employability skills of their students at all levels," said Professor Les Ebdon, Chair of million+ and Vice-chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, "They offer career enhancing skills for doctoral students and the 'soft skills' needed to succeed in the world of work. They also lead the way in postgraduate education aimed at supporting entrepreneurial thinking and activity. Now more than ever we need to be offering more support to business, not taking it away."
A review of postgraduate funding has been launched by the Government and is expected to report before the General Election. Research-intensive universities have laid out proposals for research and doctoral funding to be concentrated on a handful of universities. million+ argue that reducing funding for postgraduate provision in modern universities will reduce potential for university/business collaboration, will reduce opportunities for non-traditional postgraduate students and will weaken the UK higher education sector in the global market-place.
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