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Northern universities 'Making a Difference'

A collaboration between four northern universities will bring benefits worth over £11 million to help regenerate some of the most deprived areas in the North of England. Northumbria University has joined forces with Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Salford, and the University of Central Lancashire in the ‘Urban Regeneration: Making A Difference’ project which hopes to address some of the key urban regeneration challenges facing the North of England.

Oisin MacNamara, Northumbria University’s Director of the Research, Regional and European Office, said: “This is a groundbreaking project which we hope will pave the way for greater collaboration between the higher education sector and everyone involved in delivering regeneration on the ground. The main legacy of the project is to make a real and lasting difference to urban regeneration right across the north of England, by improving the know-how and working practices of agencies engaged in regeneration by involving academic staff in working collaboratively on such activities”.

Northumbria University’s role in the project will focus on Health and Well-Being, pulling together an inter-disciplinary team from across the University. The universities intend for the project to have a direct impact on key national agendas such as widening participation and knowledge transfer, as well as the development of key advisory posts for academics within external agencies. It is also expected to lead to new accredited learning programmes and business start ups.

Mr MacNamara said: “The results will be discussed at a series of seminars and workshops, culminating in a major conference to be held in 2008. However, it is anticipated that the real impact of this project will be felt by communities throughout the North of England, making a real difference and leaving a lasting legacy.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .