Engineering and Digital Technology Park Project

Professor Seamus Higson, C.Eng. C.Sci, FIMM, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Sustainability and Enterprise)

Addressing the Needs of Disadvantaged Coastal Communities

Characteristics of Coastal Communities

• Local economic deprivation

• Low wage economy with low value jobs

• Low percentage start-ups of new business

• Lack of workers with higher level skills and training

• Migration of knowledge workers and graduates out of the area

Progression to Higher Level Education and Skills

• The Arun district, where Bognor Regis is situated, experiences higher rates of economic

inactivity and unemployment, lower skills levels relative to national averages, and a significant

lack of engaging and educational activities for families. (Labour Market Reports, 2015)

• Only 27% of students from the coastal region graduate in technical or scientific subjects -against a figure of 40 per cent nationally.

University of Chichester Academy Trust and

Widening Participation

• ‘Rocket Science Project’ - 2016 at Kingsham Primary School…

• Kingsham: One of the eight schools within the University of Chichester University Academy Trust

The University of Chichester: Education from Primary schooling through to PhD

• Silicon Beach – the digital and software industry stretching from Brighton to

Bournemouth

• Support of Regional Catapult Centre for Digital Industries based in Brighton

• Launch of Creative and Digital Hub supported by WiredSussex in Bognor Regis

Potential of IT Led Economic Regeneration

Role of the Engineering and Digital Technology Park

• Increase the number of young people from disadvantaged communities in Higher

Education.

• Industry-led curriculum that meets the needs of the local and regional IT and digital

industry.

• Provide a platform for exciting new partnerships with national organisations and industry

leaders.

• Unlock national and EU investment for research and development programmes.

• Emphasis on project-based learning taking place in settings where students can learn from each other across disciplines and interact business.

• Specialist facilities for industrial / commercial use in partnership with staff and students.

• Incubation space to support enterprise-led education, innovation and the development of community and graduate start-ups.

• Funding being sought for specialist STEM outreach facility for schools and Colleges.

Supported by Government• £45m project

- £8m Local Growth Fund, BIS

- £2.7m grant from Higher Education Funding

Council

• Construction started in October 2016

• First cohorts start September 2017

• Building opens June 2018

The Building and Facilities

Why the Government is Backing Us

Teaching Excellence A Heritage in Widening Participation

• 12th in the UK for teaching quality (The Times & Sunday Times University Guide 2016)

• 9th out of 119 for satisfaction with teaching (The Guardian and League Tables 2017)

• 95% of our graduates are employed or continuing in Higher Education within 6 months of graduating. (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education)

• Top 15 in the UK for staff who are enthusiastic about what they are teaching (National Student Survey 2016)

• University of the Year for Student Retention 2014 and 2017 (The Times & Sunday Times University

Guide 2016)

• 18% of our research is classified as world leading. (Research Excellence Framework 2014)

The University is successful, increasing its full time undergraduate numbers by 26% since 2010 (the 9th highest growth in the sector)

Our undergraduate student community is formed by:• 36% of students from the lowest

income group. • 34% from Low Participation

Neighbourhoods.• 53% are the first generation to

University.

• 30+ degree programmes

• Two new Departments: Engineering & Design – and Creative & Digital Technologies.

• Key stakeholders: Business School and Institute of Education

• Encompassing Degree Apprenticeships, Undergraduate, Masters and PhD programmes.

• IT-related subject areas (from Maths and Finance through to Digital Film Technology)– Computer Science for the Creative Industries

– Creative and Digital Technologies

– Mathematics

– Data Science and Big Data

– Digital Technology Solutions - Degree Apprenticeship

– IT Management for Business

– Software Development

– 3D Animation and Digital Special Effects

– Digital Film Production

Academic Programmes

Some of our Supporters

• 12 month placement 57

• 3 month placement 79

• Scholarship/bursary 22

• CDIO Project 27

• Use of facilities 53

• CPD 18

• Research 10

Employers have demonstrated specific commitment to the Engineering and Digital Technology Park. To date, in excess of £2.4m of investment has already been pledged two years ahead of launch and still growing.

6.

Investment By Our Supporters

Suppliers of Equipment:

• Tendered supply, leasing of equipment

• Partnerships – and sponsored facilities; showcase facilities for equipment;

• Naming rights of specialist facilities

• Spin-in hosting of companies / regional hubs for companies

Your Suggestions…

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Building a Relationship with Yourselves