28.11.2006
The university's entrepreneurship network, beepurple, was highlighted in a national report out today. The Universities UK publication showcases the many ways universities are working with employers to develop business-focused degrees and to enhance graduate employability.
The report 'Higher level learning: universities and employers working together' (shown right), features case studies from 26 universities including Brighton to look at how universities are helping instil entrepreneurship.
Brighton's network, beepurple, aims to stimulate, inform and develop entrepreneurship among students, staff and alumni through monthly workshops and masterclasses. It also helps to broker work placements, organises events bringing businesses and the university together, and supports members' applications for courses, competitions and scholarships.
Business multi-millionaires explain about their failures before their successes, and how long real life 'overnight' success can take. These are challenging concepts to convey in textbooks, but have enormous impact when explained face-to-face. Over 254 business people from the Brighton and Sussex area have been involved with the activities since February 2005.
Professor Drummond Bone, President, Universities UK, said: "Higher level learning demonstrates how effectively universities are focusing their teaching to meet employer and student demand, as well as Government aims for the UK economy."
Universities currently generate £45 billion of output a year - making them a larger part of the economy than either the UK pharmaceutical industry or the aircraft industry. They employ 1.2% of the UK's workforce.
In a foreword to Higher level learning, Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Education and Skills, said: "As the HE sector begins to operate in a competitive market, employer-led provision will enable delivery of the skills that the labour market needs, and that students want."
Richard Lambert, Director-General, CBI, and an honorary graduate from the University of Brighton said in his foreword to the report: "The global economy is rapidly evolving and if the UK is to retain its position as the fifth largest economy in the world we need highly-skilled graduates able to respond to these developments."
"Employers are committed to communicating their skills needs effectively to the HE sector at all levels, and working together to design and deliver qualifications and training to meet those needs. This publication is welcome evidence of some of the innovative ways in which this is happening."
Find out more
For more information you can download the 'Higher level learning' report (1.8 Mb pdf).
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
