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Read blogs from members across the University Alliance and from the UA policy team

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  1. The University of Hertfordshire’s holistic approach to research-led innovation and entrepreneurship

    In our latest ‘Innovators’ blog, Yanina Aubrey-Gimenez writes about how the University of Hertfordshire is providing dedicated (and multi-faceted) support to businesses and entrepreneurs. “Starting and scaling up innovation can be an uphill battle for entrepreneurs. The journey is fraught with challenges – particularly in the beginning – and statistically, the odds are against even the most promising start-ups. Entrepreneurs face a daunting array…

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  2. Teesside’s Net Zero Ambitions

    Alliance Universities are anchor institutions as well as innovators – benefitting regional economies through vital collaborative research. For instance, since opening in July 2023, Teesside University’s Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre (NZIIC) is playing a key role in the decarbonisation efforts of the Tees Valley and beyond. In the latest instalment of the ‘Innovators Blog’, The NZIIC’s Director Dr Gari Harris explains how the centre is helpi…

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  3. How Coventry University Group are driving ‘challenge-led innovation’

    Alliance universities are defined by their ethos of continuous innovation and collaboration. In the latest instalment of UA’s ‘Innovators’ blog, Paul Fairburn explains how Coventry University are delivering ‘challenge-led innovation’, supporting businesses and commercialising research to benefit regional economic growth “The pace of technological change and the disruptive nature of technology is continuing to transform our world. There is no hidi…

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  4. Placed-based innovation at RGU Orkney

    “Orkney is a unique archipelago of islands, regularly ranked as one of the best places to live in the UK. But its appeal is much greater than this. Orkney has an entrepreneurial and innovative culture which lends itself to testing new and varied ideas. As an island group, it offers variety through its mix of towns, rural mainland areas and outer islands, each with differing demographics, service requirements and landscape. Orkney is large enough …

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    Elsa Cox
  5. Collaboration and the social dimension at the heart of innovation

    Professional and technical universities like those across the Alliance have great links to the creative industries – but creative graduates often find the transition to employment difficult. Dr Edward McCaffrey, Senior Lecturer in Film Production at Middlesex University writes about how he worked collaboratively to boost employability prospects for creative arts graduates. “When I started thinking about this blog, an old business adage sprung to …

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    Dr Eddie McCaffrey
  6. Reflections on the DTA programme, fellows and new videos

    “It is hard to believe that the final year of the DTA3 COFUND programme is fast approaching. The past four years have been a whirlwind of activity from undertaking student recruitment to welcoming and inducting our new recruits, and then delivering a wide range of training and networking activities. It has been exciting to see candidate names written on application forms become PhD Fellows who we have got to know as they have developed in their s…

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  7. Doctoral Training Alliance (DTA) case study: Ana Tendero Cañadas

    In this video, Ana tells us about her project on the ageing of the human bladder, and how she has found the DTA network beneficial in advancing her professional skills. “My name is Ana Tendero Cañadas and I’m a PhD student at the University of Brighton, in the Applied Biosciences area. In my project I study the effect that age has on the normal bladder mechanisms in order to investigate possible ways to prevent or treat bladder conditions that af…

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  8. Doctoral Training Alliance (DTA) case study: Surya Maruthupandian

    In this video, Surya tells us about her project turning waste into construction materials and the benefits of being part of the DTA community “I am Surya. I am a third-year MSCA DTA3/COFUND Energy fellow, studying at the University of Hertfordshire. I am from a Civil Engineering background presently focusing on sustainable building materials. My research studies the feasibility of the use of a silicate-rich mine tailing for the production of ceme…

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    Surya Maruthupandian
  9. DTA Summer School 2022 – Three days of Celebration, Collaboration and Community

    “After two years of online events, the Doctoral Training Alliance brought together cohorts from its four interdisciplinary (Applied Biosciences for Health, Social Policy, Energy and Future Societies) programmes for an in-person summer school. The summer school was held at the University of Brighton from 6th – 8th of July. The events of the programme were planned to reinforce community in research. (To know more read the University Alliance blog a…

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    Surya Maruthupandian
  10. COP26 needs to address air quality as well as climate change

    First published in Air Quality News on 29th October 2021 Dr Jo Barnes, Senior Research Fellow at UWE Bristol explains why COP26 must address air quality as well as climate change. While all eyes will be on the UK’s hosting of COP26 it is important that this vital international summit considers a dual focus on both the long-term measures to tackle climate change and the need to improve air quality. The same sources of emissions that are responsibl…

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