Menu
11/07/2008
Economy Benefits From Higher Education: Survey
The latest survey of interaction between the Higher Education (HE) sector and business demonstrates the major role universities and colleges play in the UK economy - as long as the students remain to complete their courses - as growing numbers have been found to be 'dropping-out'.
The seventh Higher Education-Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey report shows that universities and colleges continue to make a substantial contribution to the economy and society across a broad range of activities.
These activities vary widely, from the commercialisation of new knowledge, through the delivery of professional training, consultancy and services, to activities intended to have direct social benefits.
The survey shows that the two Northern Ireland HE Institutions have succeeded in increasing the breadth of their collaboration across the local economy.
Queen's University Belfast (pictured) now works with 15 of the 19 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) sectors in Northern Ireland, and the University of Ulster with all but one.
This is a considerable improvement on the 2005/06 figures where both institutions worked with 13 out of the 19 SIC sectors.
This success is also reflected in the collaborative research income to the two universities which has increased by nearly one third from the previous survey.
NI Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey welcomed the results of the survey and said: "As well as the substantial increase in collaborative research income achieved by our two universities, which now stands at over £14million, the value of individual research contracts with the two universities are now, on average, 50% higher than last year.
"Commercial businesses and non-commercial organisations are seeing the benefits that the expertise within our universities can bring and are spending almost £11million on contract research and a further £2.6million on specialist consultancy services," he concluded.
However, and less positively, it has emerged that the University of Ulster has one of the highest rates of students quitting after a year of study.
Its 15.2% drop-out rate was the 10th worst out of 150 universities in the UK, according to Higher Education Statistics Agency figures.
At Queen's University, just 7.5% of first year students left.
(BMcC/KMcA)
The seventh Higher Education-Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey report shows that universities and colleges continue to make a substantial contribution to the economy and society across a broad range of activities.
These activities vary widely, from the commercialisation of new knowledge, through the delivery of professional training, consultancy and services, to activities intended to have direct social benefits.
The survey shows that the two Northern Ireland HE Institutions have succeeded in increasing the breadth of their collaboration across the local economy.
Queen's University Belfast (pictured) now works with 15 of the 19 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) sectors in Northern Ireland, and the University of Ulster with all but one.
This is a considerable improvement on the 2005/06 figures where both institutions worked with 13 out of the 19 SIC sectors.
This success is also reflected in the collaborative research income to the two universities which has increased by nearly one third from the previous survey.
NI Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey welcomed the results of the survey and said: "As well as the substantial increase in collaborative research income achieved by our two universities, which now stands at over £14million, the value of individual research contracts with the two universities are now, on average, 50% higher than last year.
"Commercial businesses and non-commercial organisations are seeing the benefits that the expertise within our universities can bring and are spending almost £11million on contract research and a further £2.6million on specialist consultancy services," he concluded.
However, and less positively, it has emerged that the University of Ulster has one of the highest rates of students quitting after a year of study.
Its 15.2% drop-out rate was the 10th worst out of 150 universities in the UK, according to Higher Education Statistics Agency figures.
At Queen's University, just 7.5% of first year students left.
(BMcC/KMcA)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
18 March 2005
University funding to be discussed at Queen’s
The future management of university funding in the UK will be debated at a major national conference at Queen's University next week. Around 120 finance chiefs from universities throughout the UK and Ireland will be visiting the campus for the annual conference of the British Universities Finance Directors Group (BUFDG).
University funding to be discussed at Queen’s
The future management of university funding in the UK will be debated at a major national conference at Queen's University next week. Around 120 finance chiefs from universities throughout the UK and Ireland will be visiting the campus for the annual conference of the British Universities Finance Directors Group (BUFDG).
12 June 2014
Universities Earn £92m From Business Interaction
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Northern Ireland earned £92m through links with businesses and the community in 2012/13, marking a 6% increase on the previous year, according to the Department for Employment and Learning.
Universities Earn £92m From Business Interaction
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Northern Ireland earned £92m through links with businesses and the community in 2012/13, marking a 6% increase on the previous year, according to the Department for Employment and Learning.
27 July 2016
Plans To Increase Tuition Fees Slammed
Plans to increase tuition fees in Northern Ireland to as much as £6,300 per year have been slammed by the SDLP. Education spokesperson Colin McGrath described the hike in fees as "outrageous and unacceptable".
Plans To Increase Tuition Fees Slammed
Plans to increase tuition fees in Northern Ireland to as much as £6,300 per year have been slammed by the SDLP. Education spokesperson Colin McGrath described the hike in fees as "outrageous and unacceptable".
10 December 2010
More Choose NI Study As Fees Rise Feared
As a hike in university fees loomed for the UK - following yesterday's contentious vote at Westminster - an increase in Northern Ireland-based student numbers has been highlighted. The Stormont Employment and Learning Minister Danny Kennedy has welcomed the new research showing that more students are choosing to study at home in Northern Ireland.
More Choose NI Study As Fees Rise Feared
As a hike in university fees loomed for the UK - following yesterday's contentious vote at Westminster - an increase in Northern Ireland-based student numbers has been highlighted. The Stormont Employment and Learning Minister Danny Kennedy has welcomed the new research showing that more students are choosing to study at home in Northern Ireland.
07 February 2013
NI Universities Earn £100m Through Business Links
Northern Ireland’s universities earned over £100m through links with local business and the community in 2010/11. That was the message from Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry following the publishing of the Higher Education Business and Community Interaction Survey (HE-BCI) Northern Ireland.
NI Universities Earn £100m Through Business Links
Northern Ireland’s universities earned over £100m through links with local business and the community in 2010/11. That was the message from Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry following the publishing of the Higher Education Business and Community Interaction Survey (HE-BCI) Northern Ireland.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
