…ed colleagues and form a team to launch a new electric car charger service company, later dubbed as the “airbnb” of electric vehicle charging by the Spark! committee. I provided suggestions and edited the funding application incorporating some of the outcomes of the research funding projects I led over the past years. In the end the application came out as a runner up for the whole nationwide competition and won the Spirit of Spark! award.” Matthi…
…ome of our international students why they chose the UK, in their own words: https://youtu.be/DKiUXxa5pys Back to contents Are international student numbers in the UK growing now? Much like the rest of the sector, most Alliance universities have experienced a drop in international student applications in 2024, and for some this has meant fewer enrolments. Data from 60 universities shows that visa issuances are down 33% this year. A separate survey…
…one of the foremost tools for social, economic and cultural development in communities across the UK. It is therefore extremely welcome to see universities recognised as an important enabler of the levelling up mission. Alliance universities are particularly well placed to play an integral role in delivering this agenda. Our members have strong, historic links with their local towns and cities, which has borne out partnerships with regional indust…
…tudents’ unions are raising spirits and maintaining social contact through online events. Over the coming weeks, the Students’ Union at Anglia Ruskin University is holding an online bake-off, mindfulness workshop and an arts and crafts workshop. We’ve been hosting similar activities at UWE Bristol and in February ran a series of feel good events, including a free, stand-up comedy event for students and staff featuring A-list comedians. With the go…
…ry cohorts, which got us thinking about how our projects link to the wider community, and may even be open to opportunities for further collaboration. The superb entries in the Images of Research competition, which ran in the lead up to Summer School, provided another fun and visual way of showcasing the very different research topics represented across the DTA. As DTA Reps, we were also thrilled to be given the chance to organise icebreaker activ…
…Orkney has been leading the way on projects that make connections with the community. For instance, the UKRI funded Augmented Fashion project aims to change the way people view traditional fashion and textiles. It brings together research teams, Scottish academics, and industry partners in Shanghai to educate consumers about the value of these products. The project uses immersive interactions to emphasise the sustainability, craftsmanship, heritag…
…has conducted two studies to date into the programme in both in-person and online versions: these found it cut loneliness by over 20% and depression by over 30%, among those already suffering from these conditions. The necessary ingredient, Nick says, is not just bringing people together with others in a group but about facilitating “deeper connections and feeling more connected”. It also requires candour and trust from participants: “social conne…
…R). Since launching in 2018, it has supported more than 160 start-ups to become market-ready. Indeed, over 650 businesses – linked to our four clusters of excellence: health and care; science, medicine and technology; advanced materials and manufacturing and screen arts – have benefitted from our multifaceted support since 2019. Our intensive Acceleration programmes for innovative start-ups and SMEs looking to scale up (which provide bespoke, wrap…
…c Borot (bottom right) All the entries can be found here. The DTA Images of Research Awards is an annual event, where DTA PhD researchers are invited to submit an image summarising their research, along with an accompanying blurb for the competition. The competition is usually held across DTA’s residential schools, and attendees vote on winners at the event. This year is the first time DTA have held a joined up awards event – a positive outcome of…
…to reaching the target of spending 2.4 per cent of GDP on R&D. This should combine commitments to both excellence and fair distribution. Those of us championing a place-based agenda need to find new arguments to navigate these complex issues, while avoiding simplistic interpretations such as the north-south divide and cities vs towns. These ignore the poverty in parts of London and the southwest and the affluence of some towns. The other divide in…
