Programme Manager Liz Goodyear went to the recent EUniWell staff training week and tells us about everything she got up to in Italy. The EUniWell staff training week, hosted by the University of Florence, provided a unique and invaluable opportunity for the University of Birmingham, alongside 10 other universities from across Europe, to engage in … Continue reading “EUniWell Staff Training Week”
Skills and Regional Economic Development
Anne Green and Abigail Taylor discuss skills policy in the UK. How can we improve skill provision to reduce regional economical disparity? This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2022. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by the University of Birmingham’s City-REDI and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of … Continue reading “Skills and Regional Economic Development”
WMREDI Policy Briefing: Pride In Place
Pride in place is one of four overarching objectives in the Levelling Up White Paper as well as the least detailed of its twelve missions. This policy briefing by Rebecca Riley and Des McNulty explores this objective from the perspective of the role universities could play. The underlying argument of the pride in place mission … Continue reading “WMREDI Policy Briefing: Pride In Place”
Meet Fumi Kitagawa, City-REDI’s new Chair of Regional Economic Development.
Fumi reflects on her return to the University of Birmingham where her academic adventure began, what she learnt along the way about regional economic development and the challenges that lie ahead. I joined the City-REDI team in April this year, and I was quite emotional when I arrived on campus in Edgbaston, looking up ‘Old … Continue reading “Meet Fumi Kitagawa, City-REDI’s new Chair of Regional Economic Development.”
The Creative Sector Vision: What Does It Say and What Might It Mean for the West Midlands?
On Wednesday the UK Government released the Creative Sector Vision a highly anticipated update to creative policy. Dr Matt Lyons provides a summary of the document and some initial reflections on what it could mean for the region. The Creative Sector Vision published yesterday is the much-anticipated latest iteration of the UK Government’s policy for … Continue reading “The Creative Sector Vision: What Does It Say and What Might It Mean for the West Midlands?”
It’s the Pandemic, Stupid. Understanding Rising Economic Inactivity in the UK.
Donald Houston discusses research undertaken with colleagues at the ONS on economic inactivity in the UK. This blog is part of a series looking at the UK Labour Market. See also: – Why are the Over-50s Leaving the Workforce?- Labour Market Flows and Future Participation Flows – What Are the Current Challenges in the UK … Continue reading “It’s the Pandemic, Stupid. Understanding Rising Economic Inactivity in the UK.”
Bridging the Gap: Addressing Ethnic Disparities in Higher Education Dropout Rates
Dr Kostas Kollydas discusses the multifaceted reasons behind higher education dropouts, emphasising the need to confront ethnic discrepancies in academic achievement that result in involuntary withdrawal from studies. Theoretical background The concept of dropout rates refers to the fraction of students who, for whatever reasons, abandon their course before completion. The issue of student dropouts … Continue reading “Bridging the Gap: Addressing Ethnic Disparities in Higher Education Dropout Rates”
West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 9th June 2023
Despite some bright spots of recovery in the nation and West Midlands, the forecast remains turbulent for the UK economy. Perhaps the biggest news is inflation: despite falls in inflation over the period since the previous monitor, the base rate is now at 4.5% and the hopes of easing interest rates in the medium term … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Impact Monitor – 9th June 2023”
What Makes a Cluster and Who (and Where) Benefits?
Policymakers are once again focused on the potential of clusters to boost regional growth. However, as James Davies and Simon Collinson demonstrate, a cluster’s contribution to growth can cross regional, national or even continental boundaries. Policymakers, consultants and academics have focused on the potential of clusters to contribute to regional economic growth for a long … Continue reading “What Makes a Cluster and Who (and Where) Benefits?”
Reconceptualising University Contribution to Knowledge Exchange: Broadening our Understanding of Motivations, Channels and Stakeholders
Fumi Kitagawa and colleagues discuss the importance of knowledge exchange for Universities, but how there remains a bias towards the commercialisation of STEM fields. This was originally published on the Centre for Innovation Management Research website. In recent years, fostering knowledge exchange (KE) between academics and external stakeholders has become increasingly important within the policy … Continue reading “Reconceptualising University Contribution to Knowledge Exchange: Broadening our Understanding of Motivations, Channels and Stakeholders”