Teesside University has scooped a national award in what is further recognition for its sector-leading apprenticeship provision.
The University received the Nursing Associate Training Programme Provider of the Year prize at last night’s Student Nursing Times Awards.
It was in recognition of the FdSc Nursing Associate course, part of the University’s Higher and Degree Apprenticeship provision, which has seen almost 400 students complete the programme since it was launched in 2017.
Judges commented that Teesside University had gone ‘above and beyond’ as a training provider and praised its commitment to partnership working and the inclusion of all health care sectors including primary care and the independent sector within the FdSc Nursing Associate course.
The award follows external recognition last year which saw Teesside University’s level 5 apprenticeship provision rated as ‘Outstanding’ by education watchdog Ofsted across all inspection areas – from leadership and management, to learning outcomes.
The 2020 Student Nursing Times Awards were held virtually this year and saw prizes handed out across 21 categories. Chief Nursing Officer for England Ruth May also gave a speech in which she praised the award finalists and thanked students for their efforts in helping to tackle the first wave of Covid-19.
Teesside University was also shortlisted in two other categories at the awards. Former science teacher Alison Anderson, who changed career direction to become a midwife and graduated from Teesside University’s BSc (Hons) Midwifery with First Class honours, was nominated for Student Midwife of the Year. While County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust’s district nursing team in Teesdale was jointly shortlisted with Teesside University for the Student Placement of the Year: Community category.
Teesside University offers a varied range of Higher and Degree Apprenticeships, which are co-designed with employers and provide an ‘earn as you learn’ opportunity, combining vocational work-based learning with study towards a professional qualification.
Linda Nelson, Associate Dean (Enterprise and Business Engagement) in the University’s School of Health & Life Sciences, said: “We are passionate about ensuring that our programmes are relevant and meet the needs of both students and employers.
“It was fantastic to see Teesside University represented so prominently at the Student Nursing Times Awards and to receive the prize for Nursing Associate Training Programme Provider of the Year was an extremely proud moment and further endorsement of the University’s exceptional work within the health sector.
“Studying as an apprentice can be challenging, but at Teesside our courses are designed to provide opportunities for widening participation and empower each student to reach their full potential.”
Middlesbrough College is one of the first colleges to be part of the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence, in partnership with NCFE, to mainstream world-class standards in skills development in the UK.
Working together with WorldSkills UK, NCFE and our partners, we will help develop a world-leading technical education sector.
Parisa Shirazi, head of skills development and international competition at WorldSkills UK, said: “This is a milestone moment – a unique opportunity for Middlesbrough College to work with other colleges across the UK and join the dawn of a skills revolution.
“Working with the staff at Middlesbrough College we will champion a skills-led recovery, which is driven by international benchmarking and rightly values high-quality apprenticeships and technical education to enable all young people to develop the employability skills that will provide them with a rewarding future.”
Using NCFE’s expertise in curriculum development and drawing on WorldSkills UK’s unique insights into global skills systems through its membership of WorldSkills, the global hub for skills excellence, staff at Middlesbrough College will be coached and mentored to embed world-class practises and techniques in their teaching, learning and assessment practices.
The work will be led by WorldSkills UK High-Performance Skills Coaches, who are all experienced WorldSkills UK Training Managers. They will capture learnings from international competitions and use these to coach and mentor educators at Middlesbrough College who will pass this knowledge on to their students, ensuring they perform to international high standards of excellence in their skills.
In addition to its work with further education colleges throughout the UK, the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence will also play an important role in supporting the development of higher technical standards across qualifications and assessment development.
Zoe Lewis, principal and chief executive of Middlesbrough College, said: “We’re proud to have a passionate and expert teaching staff at Middlesbrough College who are dedicated to helping students achieve their potential.
“We’ve been selected through a very rigorous process to be part of the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence programme, one of only 20 colleges in the UK.
“This partnership will build on their strengths – enhancing teaching and curriculum innovation even further to give students a world-class skill set and mindset that will give them the edge in the jobs market and benefit their employers.
“The goal is to ultimately give employers a more highly qualified and performing young workforce which will support higher business productivity.
“Technical skills aligned to employers’ needs are a key specialism of Middlesbrough College and this partnership will keep us at the forefront of the sector.”
A first look behind the scenes of a £2m expansion of Middlesbrough College’s STEM training centre has been revealed.
Construction is already underway to prepare a new Higher Education department that will support the College’s delivery of higher level technical training through the Institute of Technology, announced in June.
And the College will welcome back Professor Brian Cox to lead the opening.
Computer generated images show how 11,800 sq ft of teaching space, IT facilities, learning resource centre and staff offices will be added to the STEM centre at the College’s Middlehaven campus.
The new facilities are expected to be completed next year, ready to welcome learners studying programmes that will prepare them for careers in the engineering, manufacturing and the digital sectors.
Zoe Lewis, principal and chief executive of Middlesbrough College, said: “Investment in our industry-leading campus means we can provide the best learning experiences for students.
“We’re excited to open this latest extension to the STEM training centre in preparation for our delivery of even more technical courses.
“Our role in the Institute of Technology, and as the only further education provider in the Tees Valley to deliver cutting edge T Levels, is all about providing high quality routes into work for young people and delivering the skills that employers need for the future.
“Come September, we’ll be inviting Tees Valley businesses to tour our facilities, talk with our expert staff and learn more about the opportunities available to them.”
The STEM centre, which was opened in September 2015 by celebrity physicist and science champion Professor Brian Cox, already hosts a range of real-life industry environments including a process hall, advanced manufacturing space and logistics centre.
Students benefit from these simulated industry sites – preparing them for jobs beyond college.
Support from Teesside University has helped scores of companies navigate their way through the challenges and opportunities posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
At the start of lockdown, the University quickly pivoted its expert-led programmes to ensure they were meeting innovation and skills needs across the region.
Analysis by the University has shown that significant numbers are accessing its support.
Highlights to date include:
- 55 companies given specialist technical support
- 101 individuals helped to improve their digital skillset through the Digital Skills for Growth programme
- Detailed diagnostic work with 22 companies to come up with tailored responses to Covid-19 challenges, with the opportunity to apply to the University’s ERDF-funded Spark Fund for financial support to implement them.
Despite the pandemic, the region’s entrepreneurial appetite is as strong as ever, with 25 new start-ups taking part in the DigitalCity Accelerator and 18 start-ups assisted through the University’s online Microbiz Academy.
The University-led DigitalCity initiative has also helped 13 companies prepare for growth through its SCALE programme.
Staff at the University prepared 20 bids for grant support for companies looking to innovate and grow.
This analysis follows the news earlier this month (July) that the activities of Teesside University benefited the region by more than £128.4 million as measured by Gross Value Added (GVA), according to a new report.
Laura Woods, Director of Academic Enterprise at Teesside University, said: “We’re very pleased that the University has been able to react so promptly to the unique situation faced by businesses.
“The past few months have demonstrated yet again – and more sharply than ever – the innovation and resilience with which our region responds to significant challenges.
“Companies have pivoted to provide new goods and services, while entrepreneurs have continued to find new markets for their goods and services.
“We’re delighted to be playing a part in supporting them, and are now focused on helping the region bounce back from the economic effects of the pandemic.”
The activities of Teesside University benefit the economy of the North East and Tees Valley by more than £128.4 million, according to a new study.
The report, commissioned by the University and carried out by independent consultancy New Skills Consulting, investigated the economic impact of the University in 2018/19 as measured by Gross Value Added (GVA).
The University’s nationwide GVA totalled £141.1 million, an increase of £15.7 million on the previous year.
When taking into account the long-term impact of the University’s knowledge exchange activities, the cumulative GVA totals £208 million.
The University spent approximately £142 million in 2018/19 and the same economic impact report also found that it supported a total of 2,961 jobs, not including the 1,614 staff it employs.
In addition, when taking into account the increased earning potential of its graduates, the University’s human capital impact – the economic value of the knowledge, skills and competencies produced – is estimated at £1.4 billion.
The findings in the report validate Teesside University’s mission as an anchor institution with a key role in driving economic growth.
This role has been particularly evident in recent months, with the University playing an integral part in the region’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The National Horizons Centre in Darlington has supplied local NHS trusts with state-of-the-art equipment to enable them to scale up testing, while academics have been working with clinicians on research to understand the clinical course of Covid-19 cases in the region and helping to understand risk factors.
Businesses have been supported through the crisis through the University’s DigitalCity initiative which has tailored its SME support to an online offering. The University is also working with Tees Valley Combined Authority to help shape future support for companies as part of the response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Professor Jane Turner OBE DL, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise and Business Engagement at Teesside University, said: “We are delighted by the findings in this report.
“Our determined efforts throughout the Covid-19 pandemic have further illustrated the impact and role of the University.
“Our ability to be agile and responsive to the pressing needs of our business community was so important to us. Our support ranged from the collaboration with Tees Valley Combined Authority to create a survey to help us really understand the issues faced by business; digital skills training for many furloughed staff; diagnostic support for 22 businesses to help them pivot and then access funds to support new product or service development; to help early stage digital businesses build not recede; offering technical support to 55 companies and 38 graduate internships to help businesses. I could go on.
“But as civic university, it is vital that we take an active role in the resurgence of the region’s economy so it is reaffirming that our work in this regard is being validated.”
Teesside University is joining forces with Siemens to bring industry and academia together in a programme which integrates technology into the curriculum.
The University’s School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies has joined the Siemens Connected Curriculum, which will deliver digital skills across all engineering degree programmes.
Siemens Connected Curriculum introduces advanced industrial tools, data and approaches to create a collaborative place where students can learn and prepare for the future. It includes industry leading Internet of Things (IOT) software, simulation environments, case studies and real-life problem-solving tutorials.
The partnership builds on the School of Computing, Engineering & Design’s expertise and reputation for innovation, academic excellence, world class research and industrial experience, with many academics themselves leading experts and practitioners in their fields.
The School works closely with employers from a range of sectors, with many involved in ensuring courses are relevant to industry and meet the needs of employers.
The programme will digitally integrate facilities from the School’s engineering laboratories, including designated areas for aerospace engineering, civil engineering and the built environment and electrical engineering, with specialist pilot plant facilities for chemical and mechanical engineering.
Dr Andrew Bingham, Associate Dean for Learning & Teaching in the School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, said: “The partnership underpins a full review of how we prepare our students to be future ready. The partnership offers an incredible opportunity for our students to be equipped for a digitally connected world.
“With the Siemens Connected Curriculum, Teesside graduates will make a significant contribution to the UK Engineering Sector in the area of emerging digital tools.”
Siemens Connected Curriculum Lead Steve Jones said: “We are delighted to have Teesside University join the Connected Curriculum initiative. As a university with a strong industrial focus, we look forward to working with them to deliver benefit for their learners, employers and wider stakeholders.”
Siobhan Fenton, Associate Dean for Enterprise & Business Engagement added: “The University has an established research relationship with Siemens, which this partnership underpins and will undoubtedly strengthen, while also helping to develop both our graduates and digitalisation across the region.”
A team of students from Teesside University has won a prestigious competition organised by an international software company.
The team of four final year Business Management students from Teesside University Business School impressed the judges at the Adobe Prototype and Pitch Challenge at the British Educational Training and Technology (Bett) Show.
The students were given a day to design a cutting-edge app for the education market, using Adobe software, and then produce a crowd-funding video to support it.
The judging panel consisted of senior level Adobe representatives from the United States and Europe, along with experienced professional Adobe software users.
The app had to address one of the following themes:
- Budgets, planning, and use of available resources
- Improving student wellbeing
- Improving staff wellbeing and retention
- Integrating and collaborating with industry
- Upskilling and developing educators and staff
The students beat teams from Cambridge and Coventry Universities with their idea for creating a one-stop-shop app that students can use to minimise stress, and increase levels of resilience, thus having a positive impact on academic engagement.
The students had never used any of the tech before, yet collaborated to create an app called, HELP BOT.
This app contained self-help notifications, such as, take a break, breathe, relax, suggested reading, and how to maximise your timetable.
The team had just three hours to research, prepare and deliver a two minute pitch to senior Adobe educators, The Guardian and wider customers at the conference.
The students won a year’s Adobe subscription and Amazon vouchers.
Beverley Boden, a Principal Lecturer at Teesside University Business School who accompanied the students to London, said: “The students fully embraced the opportunity and they not only showcased their ability to work effectively as a team, they demonstrated leadership, strong business acumen and innovation throughout the entire day.
“The judges were extremely impressed with the team’s work ethic and resourcefulness and praised their approach and dedication to the task.
“We are incredibly proud of the students, their work ethic and above all their professionalism.”
The Business School is now looking at ways in which the students’ idea can be developed further across the University.
Dr Susan Laing, Dean of Teesside University Business School, added: “At Teesside University Business School we pride ourselves on our ability to develop graduates who can make real impact in the modern workplace.
“This result is a fantastic achievement for our students and showcases how they can harness the latest technology and use entrepreneurial ways of thinking to add real value to their employers.”
Bett is a leading education technology industry show which brings together over 800 major companies, 103 new EdTech startups and over 34,000 attendees.
Teesside University has embarked upon an ambitious strategic digital transformation project to empower students and staff through the use of technology.
Teesside University Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) Professor Mark Simpson and Academic Registrar Jonathan Eaton also visited the Bett Show to deliver a presentation on how the award-winning Future Facing Learning initiative is delivering teaching and learning excellence with the help of cutting-edge digital technology.
A total of £14.5million has been signed off by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority Cabinet to help deliver Northern School of Art’s new state-of-the-art further education campus in Middlesbrough.
The scheme will see the School’s college-level campus relocating from its existing Acklam base to an architect-designed, purpose-built, three-storey building in the centre of Middlesbrough.
It will create new teaching space for the North’s only specialist art and design college, which provides a range of arts, design, theatre and film courses and is recognised as a pre-eminent institution with an Outstanding Ofsted rating since 2009.
If plans are approved, the School’s new 5,200 sq. metre college level campus building will be located on the site of the former Denmark Street car park, opposite the BBC studios and adjacent to the town centre Sainsbury’s store.
The new location lends itself to providing an easily accessible base for students from across Tees Valley who are attracted by the School’s specialist creative curriculum, as well as supporting greener transport options with easy access to the bus and railway stations.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “I’m delighted to have been able to provide funding so that the Northern School of Art can relocate its Acklam campus from the old, outdated buildings it currently occupies to a state-of-the-art, purpose built building in the centre of Middlesbrough.
“The School is hugely important to the whole of the Tees Valley, and its reputation as a national centre for excellence in the art, design and creative sectors will be strengthened thanks to the new facility this funding will provide.
“The brilliant campus, in its new central location, will inspire our students for years to come. The second-to-none education and training on offer will give them the skills they need to succeed, as creative sectors begin to play an ever bigger role in the region’s economy. It will also help the School achieve its university aspirations and go on to bigger and better things.”
Martin Raby, The Northern School of Art’s Principal, said that the approval of funding is part of a major step forward by the School, which changed its name from Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD) in 2018 and which has a 140-year heritage of providing creative education in the region.
He said: “This is an exciting new chapter for the School which, if our subsequent planning application is approved, will provide a new sustainable, state-of-the art building and bring new life to the western end of Middlesbrough.
“As the region’s only specialist creative institution, it makes sense for our campus to be closer to Boho in Middlesbrough and at the heart of the creative and digital cluster in Middlesbrough.
“The increased visibility and accessibility of the School will generate benefits for the region and town, attracting more students and footfall. More students studying in Middlesbrough also offers the prospect of increased numbers studying for their creative degree with us in Hartlepool.
“In turn, this will bring significant economic benefit for the area and help to redefine the image of the Tees Valley for inward investors, students, and visitors.”
Teesside University’s Middlesbrough campus is to become a £5.6 million enterprise zone, providing a dynamic environment for new entrepreneurs and established companies to grow through digital innovation.
The Innovate Tees Valley University Enterprise Zone (UEZ) will build on the University’s established track record in helping tech start-ups, with the development of two enterprise hubs on its Middlesbrough campus.
Underpinned by academic strengths in digital technologies (including AI, augmented reality and intelligent gaming) and a focus on interdisciplinary working, the UEZ will be the driver for increased tech start-ups and productivity growth through digitalisation in priority sectors for the Tees Valley. With all academic Schools involved, it will expand opportunities for university-business collaborations leading to new digital products and processes, new business creation, and recruitment and retention of graduates in the Tees Valley.
The UEZ will be part-funded by a £1.485m capital grant from the Research England Development Fund, matched by the University, and levering in at least a further £2.6m over the next three years. Key partners and supporters include the Tees Valley Combined Authority, Middlesbrough Council and Tees Valley local authorities, Double Eleven, Visualsoft, Cubic, Amazing Interactives, R8 Games, the North East England Chamber of Commerce and MAKE UK.
Work for the UEZ will include re-purposing the existing Launchpad start-up centre and Phoenix Building to provide exciting and transformative incubation, collaboration and acceleration space on campus, including additional start-up and grow-on units, games studios, co-working and maker spaces and events facilities.
Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Teesside University, Professor Paul Croney, welcomed the news, saying: “This is a hugely positive development for the area. The UEZ will place Teesside University and its focus on enterprise, innovation and growth firmly at the heart of the Tees Valley economy. It reflects our key mission as an anchor institution driving economic growth in the region.
“Teesside University has an excellent reputation for creating and sustaining digital start-ups and, by working alongside our established academic expertise in business and digital technologies, we look forward to delivering a new pipeline of sustainable, high-growth businesses into the Tees Valley business sector.”
Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, said: “The Tees Valley is already home to world-class digital companies, many stem from graduates of the University. As we look to drive forward growth in this vital sector, we need to make sure we are providing the top-quality facilities businesses need to help them
“Increasing the number of opportunities and suitable spaces for scale-up companies is key to the region’s economic growth. This investment will help drive innovation and growth through digital technology and create the industries for the future, ensuring well paid, high-quality jobs are available for generations to come.”
Science Minister Chris Skidmore said: “Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, and Teesside has a thriving ecosystem of local businesses and entrepreneurs whose creativity and determination help underpin the UK’s position as a leading innovator.
“Alongside this, many of Teesside’s research community are right on the precipice of turning ground-breaking ideas into real products and services which could change the lives not just of people in the local community, but people around the world.
“Today’s funding will not only help local scientists take their ideas from lab to market – but will also support an enterprise hub at Teesside University. Providing space for local businesses to forge crucial partnerships, the UEZs will create jobs, drive local growth and provide SMEs with a vital stepping stone to succeed.”
Pictured: The UEZ will see the Phoenix Building (pictured) and the Launchpad start-up centre re-purposed into exciting and transformative incubation, collaboration and acceleration space
Talented media students have received prizes at Teesside University’s annual Journalism Awards.
The event, which was hosted by Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, took place at the Students’ Union Love it Lounge at Teesside University’s Middlesbrough campus as part of ExpoTees.
Journalism students received awards based on exceptional work produced during the past academic year.
The winners receive a week’s work experience at the company which sponsors the individual award.
Winners were commended for the skills learnt on the BA (Hons) Journalism and the BA(Hons) Sports Journalism degree courses.
Among the awards were Broadcast Journalist of the Year, Best Feature Writer and Blogger of the Year.
Prizes included a number of work placements with The Gazette, The Northern Echo and The Hartlepool
Mail along with work experience at Sky Sports News, The Sun’s Fabulous Magazine; Mirror Online; Global FM; BBC Tees and TV station Made in Teesside.
A number of special academic awards were also given out, including the NCTJ Prize for the student with the highest overall marks while training for the National Council of Journalism qualifications.
Keith Downie is Sky Sports News Reporter for the North East breaking football stories involving Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Sunderland.
He has reported from court in the Adam Johnson trial, broke the news as Sam Allardyce got the England job and was on hand as Rafa Benitez arrived on Tyneside to take over at Newcastle.
In the January and summer transfer windows Keith presents from the SkyPad in the London studio all the latest transfer dealings from clubs in England and Europe, as well as providing goal updates on Sky’s Soccer Saturday.
Hannah McMahon, Course Leader for Journalism in the School of Computing and Digital Technologies, said: “These awards recognise the hard work and excellent calibre of our current journalism students and the students were thrilled to be awarded their prizes by Keith.
“I would like to thank all of the media organisations who generously contributed prizes to this celebration of our students’ achievements.”
The winners were:
NCTJ Prize Winner: Kelly Aitkin
Vlogger of the Year – sponsored by Teesside University’s Corporate Communications: Tommy Longworth
Content Producer of the Year – Sponsored by Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima): Ellie Roper
Feature Writer, sponsored by The Northern Echo: Sian Palmer-Brown
Multimedia Journalist of the Year, sponsored by The Gazette: Lauren Heslop
Community Reporter of the Year, sponsored by The Hartlepool Mail: Hannah Conway
Sky Sports News Award: Sam Blacklock
Lifestyle Reporter, sponsored by The Sun’s Fabulous Magazine: Samantha Hall
All Round Reporter of the Year, sponsored by Mirror Online: Sam Fletcher
Audio Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Global FM: Eden Lewis
Video Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Made in Teesside TV: Daniel Ragusa
Digital Communications Student of the Year sponsored by Harvey and Hugo PR: Sophie Wheadon
Creative Communications Campaign sponsored by Publicity Seekers PR: Christine Candeland
Outstanding Contribution to Campus Life Award, sponsored by Teesside University: Heidi Spencer
Public Relations Student of the Year – sponsored by DTW PR Agency: Emma Morton and Ellie Dalton
Broadcast Journalist of the Year – sponsored by ITV News Tyne Tees: Heidi Spencer
Blogger of the Year – sponsored by Middlesbrough FC Foundation: Cameron Calvert
Ali Brownlee Award – sponsored by BBC Tees: Adam Hassell
Journalism Awards Final Project – Sponsored by Visualsoft: Sport Uncovered (George Crabb, Luke Gray, Joe Robertson, Sam Blacklock)
SCDT Journalism awards
