The North West Universities Association (NWUA) Keith Burnley, Executive Director, NWUA

This presentation will cover: -The rationale and drivers for the formation of the association in 1999 within the context of regionalism in the United Kingdom -The governance/management arrangements of the association and its initial remit -The way in which the nature and activities of the association have developed since its inception -The role of the EU and national policy initiatives and programmes in framing the work of the association -The challenges and opportunities presented to collaborative working at a regional level rather than local, sub-regional, national, European or international

Regionalism What is Regionalism? -Based on the need to democratise and devolve central government functions to regions. -Regions will be able to manage themselves more effectively to boost the economy and increase the standard of living.

The Growth of English Regionalism 1.The move to greater regionalisation of Government began in the 1980s. 2.In 1994, Regional Government Offices established to provide a working network for English Regionalism to grow and develop. 3.A Labour Government came to power in Their Election Manifesto stated that ‘in time’ the party would introduce legislation to allow people, region by region, to decide in referendums whether they wanted Regional Government.

4.In 1999, Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) were established in each of the English regions…

…RDAs established to combat the following 3 conditions: 1.Under achievement of Regional Economies in comparison with European Regions 2.Disparity in the economic and social performance between English Regions 3.Discrepancies in the amount of business creation and retention rates between English regions

To combat these conditions, RDAs work with partners in the public, private, voluntary and academic sectors at regional and local levels in order to enhance regeneration, investment, skills development and enterprise… NWUA is one of these partners…

But English Regional Governance has stalled  Referendum on elected regional assembly in the NE defeated  Unelected regional assemblies have been given some powers BUT  City/Regions are becoming of increasing interest

The NWUA was formally launched in May 2000 to represent the 15 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of the North West of England: -The University of Bolton (10) -University of Central Lancashire (6,7,8) -University of Chester (19,20) -Cumbria Institute of the Arts (1) -Edge Hill University (9) -Lancaster University (5) -The University of Liverpool (17) -Liverpool Hope University (18) -Liverpool John Moores University (16) -The University of Manchester (13) -Manchester Metropolitan University (14,21) -The Open University in the North West (12) -University of Salford (15) -St. Martin’s College (2,3,4) -The Royal Northern College of Music (11)

NWUA Remit  Promote the Higher Education Sector within the North West  Ensure that the views of the member institutions are taken into account when developing regional policy  Strengthen the ability to lobby nationally and in Europe in support of the interests of NWUA member institutions  Identify, support, and manage collaborative bidding projects  Enhance communication links between the 15 member institutions

NWUA Governance  A Board comprising heads of member institutions  A Strategy Group at Pro Vice Chancellor level  An Executive Group to give operational guidance to the secretariat

The growth of NWUA and the framework within which it operates Staff – In 2000 there were 2 members of staff working for the NWUA… …there are now 19 members of staff with 28 planned for January 2007

Networking and Policy The NWUA has advisory groups the following areas: Research Learning and Teaching Widening Participation and Skills Enterprise Culture Media and Sport Health and Social Care The NWUA supports networks that assist its wider framework of activities. Business Liaison Officer Community Officers European Officers International Officers

Regional Brokerage  From NWUA administered the Knowledge North West (KNW) programme to provide a brokerage service between its 15 member institutions and regional business  By August 2005 KNW had handled over 2,000 broadcast and request enquiries, providing assistance to companies and organisations of all types and sizes, from within the North West region and beyond  Higher Levels Skills Pathfinder

European Programmes  Objective 2 Knowledge Based Action Plan  Objective 2 Regional Action Plan  Coordination in Objective 1 and 3  Regional Leonardo Programme

Benefits presented to collaborative working at a regional level across a diverse range of institutions…  Acting as a single HE ‘voice’ in the region  Collaborative activity where this adds value to what could be achieved by institutions acting independently  NWUA can call upon the academic resources of a diverse range of institutions  ‘Neutral’ administration of funding  Sharing of good practice  Raising the collective profile, regionally, nationally internationally

Challenges presented to collaborative working at a regional level across a diverse range of institutions…  Being effective in liaising with, and representing the needs of 15 diverse member institutions  Tendency to be reactive  Regional partners or government agencies wishing to use NWUA in ways that might threaten institutional autonomy  ‘Visibility’ of NWUA within member institutions – responses to requests  Communication with members  Operational complexity

The added value from working at a regional level rather than local, sub-regional, national, European or international levels.  Critical mass but manageable size  Requirements of agencies - North West Development Agency; EU  Working within a common socio- economic context

North West Universities Association (NWUA)