North East universities unite for regional growth

The five universities in North East England have launched a collaborative initiative to drive economic growth, improve access to higher education and foster regional development.

In response to the Government’s priorities for higher education reform, the newly formed ‘Universities for North East England’ (UNEE) partnership - comprising Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside universities - aim to amplify their collective impact “by forging deeper connections” with the Tees Valley and North East combined authorities, as well as local businesses and the communities.

Speaking at a launch event in Newcastle, the vice-chancellors of the five universities outlined their vision for greater partnership and affirmed their commitment to provide a more unified voice of higher education in and for the North East, helping support the region’s economic, social and cultural success. 

In a joint statement, the vice-chancellors 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 over 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 2022-23, while employing more than 3,800 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. It will also continue to provide bespoke support for care-experienced students through the Regional Care Leaver Covenant.

In addition, the universities have been central to helping deliver a skilled and innovative workforce to drive the North East’s key and emerging industries, notably in green energy, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, digital and creative sectors.

By 2026, the five universities will have trained around 11,000 nurses, 4,000 doctors and 8,000 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 who could have pursued higher education, further highlighting the universities' contribution to regional prosperity.

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