Research universities and their regions

Observations from visits to UBC and LundJohn Tibbitt PASCAL Observatory / Glasgow University

Background

5 days in Vancouver and LundInterviews with key staff in each

universityGuided by benchmarking tool developed

by David Charles and used in PURESupplemented by experience in PURE

and working in Glasgow

Domains of engagement

City and regional planningSupport to businessSocial inclusion and cohesionQualifications and skillsHeritage and cultureSustainabilityManagement

Focus of engagement

GlobalInternational (regional)NationalLocal region/stateLocal city

Context

LocationHistory and heritageSize

UBC - strengths and weaknesses

Good at:

Business innovation

Culture and heritage

CPD and continuing education

Social inclusion Promoting public debates

Could improve:

Responding to local business needs

Responding to govt training programmes

Student internships and enterprise opportunities

Lund – strengths and weaknesses

Good at:

Business innovation

Business incubation

Enterprise training

Commissioned education

Widening access

Could improve:

Culture and Heritage

Local business links

Regional skills agenda

Links with regional authorities

Links with local HEIs

Issues - strategic

Clarity of the strategyCentralised or decentralised FocusSupply or demand driven

Issues: Practice

Partnership:

- regional & local public authorities

- other HEIs

- business MediaMarketing and market researchEnterprising approach

Some challenges

Understanding the complexityInter-connectedness of domains and

levelsQuality of engagement activityUnderstanding the ‘engagement gap’