RCUK have recently circulated information about a new School-University Partnerships Initiative.

The University of Manchester intends to submit a proposal and, on the request of the President and Associate VP for Social Responsibility, Professor Aneez Esmail, this is being coordinated through the Student Recruitment & International Development Division.

The aim of the initiative is to provide funding to HEIs to work in partnership with one or more school alliances within their region in order to facilitate engagement between young people and researchers. There is a maximum of £50,000 p.a. for 3 years available to a small number of HEIs (from 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015) and there is only one submission per HEI. The deadline is 25 September 2012.

An open consultation meeting will be held for interested staff within the University which will:

• Outline the criteria for the proposals

  • •Outline key requirements to work with Teaching Schools external to the University
  • •Develop a sense of existing practice in School partnerships with regard to research within the University
  • Understand which internal and external bodies would need to be consulted with to make a bid
  • •Gather ideas from colleagues about which initiatives should be prioritised

The meeting will take place on Monday 20 August, 10am –- 11.30am in Room A101, Samuel Alexander Building and will be chaired by Dr Tim O’’Brien, Associate Dean for Social Responsibility in EPS and Julian Skyrme/Stephanie Lee from Undergraduate Recruitment & Widening Participation.

If you are able to attend the meeting please complete a quick registration form so that we have an idea of numbers by following this link. If you are unable to attend but would like to remain informed of this process, please complete the same registration form so that we have your contact details.

If you have any questions in the meantime about this initiative please contact Stephanie Lee –  email: Stephanie.Lee@manchester.ac.uk or phone: 0161 275 7544

Posted on behalf of Stephanie Lee, UG Recruitment and Widening Participation Manager, The Directorate for the Student Experience, The University of Manchester