It’s been a busy first semester of the new academic year, and as a result I am a bit behind on my monthly updates-perhaps quarterly updates might be easier to commit to in the New Year! I hope the following gives a reasonable roundup of what’s been going on in BU and across the sector this term.
Your Career Week
We kicked off the term with a newly revamped ‘Your Career Week‘. The week saw some fantastic engagement from a range of regional, national and global employers (more than 70) and saw record numbers of students visit employers’ stalls – nearly 2,500 across two days. Employability is an integral part of the student experience at BU and over the last couple of years, there has been tremendous institutional support for ensuring that the fantastic range and quality of initiatives which help to add value for our graduates remain relevant to the future global jobs market that our current students will join, whether as job seekers or job creators.
As part of the week , we delivered the ‘BU Be Global’ student mobility festival which introduces students to the global market place and to demonstrate how the experiences gained from studying or working abroad and thinking globally can be invaluable for their career. Guest speaker Stephen Isherwood (Chief Executive) Institute of Student Employers (ISE), spoke about transitioning graduate talent to graduate careers: “Employers are offering more opportunities for students and a wider variety too, but competition is strong. 82% of UK employers pay little attention to what a student has studied. Employers are looking for graduates who have strengths to make their organisation successful”. BU is committed to improving our students’ career options and preparing them for the world of work both in the UK and globally, an ethos underpinned by the Global Talent Programme 2017-18 which also got underway for this academic year during ‘Your Career Week’.
Mobility Works
On a similar theme, another guest speaker Stephanie Kleynhans, European Policy Officer, Universities UK International confirmed “graduates who studied abroad are less likely to be unemployed and more likely to have a higher salary and graduate position six months after graduating”. The Gone International: mobility works report released in October revealed the total percentage of students who had a period of mobility during their studies increased from 5.4% in the 2013–14 graduating cohort to 7.2%. This is promising, but more can be done, which is why in addition to our student mobility opportunities we are busy planning our third season of the innovative Global Festival of Learning for 2018, which aims to inspire education, research and practice and enrich our offer on global talent and employability. The festival provides an opportunity for BU students and staff to travel to China, India and the ASEAN region. New for 2018 we will also be introducing a Europe Festival. More details about the full 2018 programme of festivals will follow soon.
Knowledge Exchange
In mid-October the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation Jo Johnson proposed a new Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) to support the sector in what he sees as its third mission, that of knowledge exchange and collaboration, when he addressed the HEFCE Conference. As part of this proposal the Minister acknowledges that “Universities’ engagement and collaboration with others – domestically and internationally – is more important now than ever”. However, uncertainty and frustration in the higher education sector surrounding the outcomes of BREXIT remains a concern. In late October, 22 leaders of European higher education bodies released a signed statement requesting European governments to advance Brexit negotiations. Until negotiations have been confirmed uncertainty continues over the future of European research, collaboration, and student mobility. The statement was released after it was established in early October that not enough progress has been made to start the next phase of BREXIT discussions, which includes research and higher education.
There was a similar theme at the Westminster Higher Education Forum Keynote Seminar on ‘The future for international research partnerships: responding to Brexit, the Newton Fund and new relationships’ in October. The message there was about translating research into measurable development impacts to ensure they deliver a range of scalable, and global impacts. BU’s vision for “creating a world-class learning community by sharing our unique fusion of excellent education, research and professional practice and inspiring our students, graduates and staff to enrich the world” has supported this approach to demonstrating the impact of our research; acting local, but thinking global. Collaborations with partners both here in the UK and overseas is a key tool for achieving this objective.
BU continues to strengthen its current 100+ academic partnerships in the UK and around the world, and in late October I travelled to Brazil as part of the Universities UK outward delegation to attend the 10th General Assembly and 9th International Seminar of the CGBU. I was also invited as a guest speaker to discuss research mobility and strategies for increasing mobility.
Celebrating talent at BU in and across Dorset
November saw BU’s Festival of Enterprise return with a series of themed talks and workshops involving entrepreneurs from across the region. Taking place between 15th – 17th November and coinciding with Global Enterprise Week (GEW), the third annual festival offered an opportunity for the wider community to explore different approaches to business and entrepreneurship aimed at turning great ideas into innovations. Talks from the likes of Simon Deverell, co-founder of Crowdfunder – the UK’s largest crowdfunding platform – as well as events with Dorset Growth Hub helped to shine a light on the wealth of entrepreneurial talent in Dorset and the UK more widely.
Sticking with the theme of talent in the region, we have again been celebrating the latest cohort of talent at BU as part of our annual graduation ceremonies. Graduations are such an important and exciting time of the year at BU, where we come together as a learning community to applaud the wonderful achievements of our students and staff, along with their families and friends. Over four days, 7th – 10th November, over 3,000 students from more than 110 countries crossed the stage. My congratulations again to each and everyone of you, #BUProud.
A record number of international student applications, but signs of Brexit are starting to show.
November saw UCAS release its End of Cycle Report 2017 in November confirming that a record number of international students were accepted onto degree courses at UK universities. This is the fifth successive year acceptances from this group have increased. Admissions saw a 5% growth in non-EU acceptances confirming UK higher education continues to be a popular destination for overseas students. However, there was a 2.1% decrease in EU acceptances and Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive of Universities UK, warned:
“The small fall in EU students suggest that Brexit is starting to deter EU students from coming to the UK. European students make a huge contribution to our universities, the economy and local communities. Spending by European students and their visitors supports 40,000 jobs across the UK. We need confirmation from Government that they will continue to provide financial support for EU students applying for 2019 entry and a commitment to a post-exit immigration system that minimises barriers and bureaucracy for students.”
HE to power innovation in the UK’s Industrial Strategy
At the end of November, the Government published its much anticipated industrial strategy, ‘Building a Britain fit for the future’, which sets out a long-term plan to increase the productivity, investment and earning power of people throughout the UK. There was widespread support from across the HE sector in response to the further measures included in the strategy which are aimed at reducing the current skills gap to meet the demands of the future economy. Equally well received was the announcement about £30m of funding to support the use of artificial intelligence and innovative education technology in delivering online digital skills courses, and extra spending on research and development (R&D); the Government outlined their plan to increase R&D investment throughout the economy to 2.4% of GDP by 2027, which currently stands at 1.7% of GDP, which is below average by OECD standards. The key challenges identified in the strategy will help UK universities to continue to deliver world-leading research, education and global talent for the future, ensuring that we remain competitive beyond BREXIT.
As the Government launches a major strategy about the future of the UK, we at BU have been busy developing our own refreshed Strategic Plan, BU2025. The BU2025 strategy represents an opportunity to develop further our Vice Chancellor’s compelling vision of Fusion that was launched in 2012 in the BU2018 strategy, ensuring that our future plans build on our excellent reputation as one of the world’s top young universities.
So, despite the colder mornings and darker evenings, there is enough brightness on the horizon to offer an optimistic outlook as we approach the end of 2017. The array of geo-political and policy challenges that continue to grab the headlines seem to be galvanizing the collective resolve of students, colleagues and the sector generally, to ensure that the UK remains one of the most relevant places for collaboration and innovation in the world. Encouragingly, students continue to seek out opportunities to broaden their global futures and, whilst the uncertainty about a post-Brexit UK is hard to ignore, ‘business as usual’ still seems to be the order of the day.
All that leaves me to say is have a wonderful festive season, and enjoy the final few weeks of 2017.