West Midlands Combined Authority: Universities unite to compete with London
Three universities are joining forces to meet the demands of devolution - and compete with London - when the West Midlands Combined Authority is launched.
The University of Wolverhampton, Birmingham City University and Coventry University are launching the West Midlands Combined Universities (WMCU) initiative, bringing together their applied research and training expertise.
Bosses say the link-up of three like-minded institutions will provide the combined authority with a powerful resource to meet ambitious plans around skills, job opportunities and productivity – including the creation of more than 500,000 jobs by 2030 and a targeted rate of growth to match that of the London economy.
The WMCU will also support the devolved body's desire to tackle a significant shortage of lower and higher end skills, particularly in the health and advanced manufacturing sectors. The move is part of a concerted bid to address the high level of unemployment - currently 9.3 per cent - across the region's seven metropolitan authorities.
The announcement, which comes ahead of the official launch of the WMCA next month, gives a major boost to the region's devolution deal and signals a significant development in the way higher education institutions might contribute to the West Midlands economy.
Leaders of the three universities anticipate that the WMCU will be able to fill predicted nursing shortages in the region by offering tailored courses and close the skills gap in the automotive sector by working with local businesses to provide higher apprenticeships alongside existing degree programmes.
They also said they would be able to help retrain in new skills and technologies.
Professor Geoff Layer, vice-chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, said: "Our ambition through our collaboration is to build on existing assets across all three universities focusing on product leadership and priority industries for the region including health care, construction, digital and creative and professional services.
"At the moment no single university can offer a geographically comprehensive range of services available in one place, and it's our aim to provide our customers with a seamless journey whilst at the same time providing value for money and economies of scale which benefit our partners."
Professor Cliff Allan, vice-chancellor of Birmingham City University, said the launch of the WMCU was about making sure higher education across the region can meet the ambitious demands of the devolution agenda.
He added: "When the West Midlands Combined Authority comes into being next month it will offer a great opportunity for our region but its success will in part be driven by closing the skills gap with the rest of the country. This partnership of three like-minded universities will form a major part of making that happen."
