North East universities unite for regional growth

The North East's five universities have launched a collaboration to drive economic growth, improve access to higher education and foster regional development.

The newly-formed Universities for North East England partnership - comprising Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside universities - aims to “forge deeper connections” with the Tees Valley and North East combined authorities, as well as local businesses and communities.

Speaking at a launch event in Newcastle, the universities' five vice-chancellors outlined their vision for greater partnership and affirmed their commitment to providing a more unified voice for higher education. 

They said: “We welcome the Government’s commitment to putting our world-leading higher education sector on a secure footing and delivering even greater value for money for UK taxpayers.

“As five independent institutions, we each bring unique strengths to the region. By working even more collaboratively through Universities for North East England, we will forge deeper connections with businesses and local communities to help unlock the full potential of our region and beyond.”

In terms of the Government’s priorities, namely expanding access and improving outcomes for disadvantaged students; economic growth; civic and regional engagement; teaching; and efficiency, these are already areas in which the universities are excelling.

The Northern Accelerator programme, an existing collaboration between the universities, has been a standout success, accelerating the commercialisation of research in the North East and supporting the launch of more than 50 spin-out businesses.

Graduates from the region’s universities have significantly contributed to economic growth, founding 129 start-ups with a combined turnover of £543 million in 2022-2023, while employing more than 3800 people.

The universities have also played a key role in initiatives such as the North East Investment Zone, a £160 million programme designed to boost clean energy and green manufacturing.

In terms of access, the universities support more than 30,000 young people annually through the ‘North East Raising Aspiration Partnership,’ which has been relaunched as ‘Access – Universities for North East England,’ with a renewed focus on improving participation for disadvantaged students.

By 2026, the five universities will have trained around 11,000 nurses, 4000 doctors and 8000 teachers, many of whom will remain in the region to support its healthcare and education systems.

Recent analysis from Universities UK shows that by age 30, North East graduates earn 34 per cent more than non-graduates, further highlighting the universities' contribution to regional prosperity.

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