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The University of Sussex Skills and Workforce Development Offer
You have told us skills and workforce development is a key challenge for companies across West Sussex, and we have committed to supporting you with this challenge helping to build workforce capacity and capability through further collaborations between local universities and industry. The first instalment in this work-plan is to focus on the opportunities at the University of Sussex.
The University of Sussex, is internationally recognised for its world-class research across many subjects. University staff work regularly with a range of businesses from multinationals to SMEs on ground breaking research and its practical uses. This cluster offer will focus on the opportunities for collaboration with the Sussex Innovation Centre and five excellent Schools with the potential to produce the Health and Life Sciences Sector talent of the future. This offer focuses on the School of Business, Management and Economics, and the School of Engineering and Informatics. We also highlight opportunities to collaborate with the School of Life Science, the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and the School of Psychology.
The menu of options will collectively contribute to ensure that:
- talented undergraduates and graduates are exposed to the possibility of a career in the Health and Sciences Sector
- graduates are provided with the preparation to be work-ready and have the right skills and experience to make the transition into the Health and Life Sciences world of work
On March 10th 2016 the University of Sussex will hold a cross-disciplinary university event in the evening which will provide an opportunity to engage with a cross section of top academics at the university and allow you to find out about the many ways that you can collaborate with the University. Further details on this event can be found here.
Professional and Industrial Placements
Placements provide benefits for students, industry and the University. Take a look at the diagram showing some of the benefits for your company. All Undergraduate students have the option to undertake a Professional Placement, and science students have the option to take a subject-specific Industrial Placement.
All placements must last a minimum of 40 weeks, although some organisations offer placements for 13 months to allow the incoming undergraduate to be trained by the outgoing student. All opportunities should be paid at the Living Wage or higher. Placements are integrated into the curriculum and are fully supported by the BMEC Placements Team (for students of business, management and economics) or the Placements Team in the Careers and Employability Centre (for the rest of the university), and a School of study Placement Tutor. The Careers and Employability Centre’s Placements Preparation Programme was runner-up in the Association of Graduate Recruiters ‘Best Preparation for Work’ Award 2015, highlighting its exceptional content, peer learning and one-to-one support.
As a host organisation you would be expected to provide a working environment in which the student can meet their learning outcomes. Some key information for employers is shown in this placement year outline from the School of Business, Management and Economics, this outline is replicated throughout the university.
Placement Examples
The School of Engineering and Informatics is experienced assisting students in securing placements in health and life sciences companies- this case study from Eschmann gives a flavour.
The University has worked with Pfizer on a number of placements for students from a range of disciplines, including Biochemistry, Business and Management, and Medical Neuroscience.
The University has also worked with GlaxoSmithKline- this example features a Psychology student placement.
Funding for shorter internships
The University of Sussex participates in the Santander Universities programme which provides SMEs funding for 50% of a 12-week internship, match funded by the employer. It also provides full funding for 4-week projects. You can register your interest here.
The University also provides full funding for some groups of students and graduates to undertake a 10-week internship, at organisations of any size. If you would like to be added to our mailing list so that we can contact you when funding is available, please register here.
Project support for SMEs
The SME Catalyst Programme, developed by the Sussex Innovation Centre, bridges the gap between growing companies needing an additional staffing resource and the pool of students and graduates at the University of Sussex seeking meaningful work. The team members are employed – and intensively trained - by the Innovation Centre and contracted out on short term projects which can be full- or part-time. If are considering employing a graduate or placement student, but do not have a full year’s work or funding, then you might consider this programme.
Research placements
Research Projects
There are numerous company benefits for placing real projects into universities. A few of the benefits are displayed in this diagram.
Postgraduates from many disciplines have the opportunity to use research from external organisations as part of their dissertation, which can benefit all parties.
Some examples of research projects are:
Real life projects in the School of Engineering and Informatics
Final year undergraduates can be involved in individual or group projects. These projects are allocated a certain credit score and have to be completed over a period of time usually 6-9 months. These projects need to come in the middle of spring for them to commence in September. Post graduates have projects, these projects come in early in the calendar year and are ready for the graduates to start in the summer. For additional details on real life projects please view this document.
Research projects in the School of Business, Management and Economics
Undergraduates study a Research Project module, this module provides the opportunity for students to undertake a significant and independent research project. This may be a dissertation in the form of a literature-based analysis of a research problem, or a dissertation in which some primary empirical data is collected and synthesised by the student. If you are interested in submitting a research project please email Shova Thapa Karki via S.Thapa-Karki@sussex.ac.uk.
Events at Sussex
The Careers and Employability Centre offers employers the opportunity to raise their profile on campus by delivering events and workshops in our Seminar Rooms in the Library, in the heart of campus.
You could use this platform to spread your workplace knowledge and experience, and inspire the next generation to pursue a career in Health and Life Sciences. Or you could run a skills workshop to enthuse students, raise the visibility of your own company and our ground breaking sector, and allow you to spot potential future talent.
Careers Fair
The University of Sussex in partnership with Brighton University hold a careers fair every November. In 2015 the Fair was held in the Amex Stadium and received over 3000 visitors. The 2016 Careers Fair is scheduled for Wednesday 2 November 2016 and could provide an excellent opportunity for you to raise the profile of your organisation amongst undergraduates and recent graduates from across the two universities. To register your interest please contact J.C.Owen@sussex.ac.uk
The Careers and Employability Centre offers a range of services to employers, including free vacancy advertising, recruitment and skills events, and facilitating work experience. You can find further information here.
If you are interested in any of our services, please email
Claire Colburn, Senior Placements and Work Experience Officer at the Careers and Employability Centre, or call direct on 01273 877528.
Research and Knowledge Exchange
Research
The University of Sussex is well known as a highly successful, research-intensive university. There are numerous opportunities for the West Sussex Health and Life Science Cluster to access its unique research portfolio, and to discover a range of specialist knowledge resources and services. Collaborative project developments with the university are very flexible; they can be intensive R&D projects and partnerships lasting several years or medium to short-term contract work.
Each of the following Schools has a distinct area of research excellence. Please click on the hyperlinks to access more information for each School.
- School of Business and Management (BMEc)
- Department of Economics
- Department of Business and Management
- SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research
- School of Engineering and Informatics
- Department of Engineering
- Department of Informatics
- School of Life Sciences research
- School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
- Department of Mathematics
- Department of Physics and Astronomy
- School of Psychology research
Access sources of funding
Various funding schemes are available through UK Research Councils, Innovate UK and many other funding organisations, the University of Sussex can help you to access those most appropriate for your project. For further details email business@sussex.ac.uk
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) enable organisations to improve their competitiveness, productivity and performance. KTPs help organisations to access knowledge, technology or skills from the UK's knowledge base, which includes universities, further education colleges and research and technology organisations. The University of Sussex possesses a wealth of KTP experience, and has a proven track record in aiding business development through the input of academic expertise.
Entering into a KTP with Sussex can provide the following benefits for organisations:
- Strategic development of products, services and organisational development
- Financial support through grant funding
- Having a knowledgeable graduate to carry out the project work
- Access to university consultancy and facilities
- Outcomes which increase commercial success of a business
If you have a potential strategic developmental project of commercial significance which you wish to explore with the University of Sussex, please contact one of their KTP Managers on 01273 877554 or email business@sussex.ac.uk.
Information in this offer can also be found online on the West Sussex Health and Life Sciences Cluster website.
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