EDUCATION
New role – Professor Craig Gaskell has been appointed Teesside University ’ s new pro-vice chancellor for enterprise and knowledge exchange .
“ Teesside is a fabulous University , with a clear and important mission .” in Manchester . He is currently visiting Professor of Higher Education Enterprise at Lancaster University .
He joins Teesside University on an interim basis for 12 months in the first instance .
Professor Gaskell succeeds the university ’ s highly respected pro vicechancellor and influential business leader , Professor Jane Turner OBE , who sadly died last year .
Vice-chancellor and chief executive of Teesside University , Professor Paul Croney OBE , said : “ Professor Gaskell ’ s knowledge of the sector , impressive experience and strategic business expertise will enable him to drive the development of innovation , enterprise , and knowledge transfer at Teesside , as well as developing new partnerships and engagement opportunities .”
Professor Gaskell added : “ Teesside is a fabulous university , with a clear and important mission . It is uniquely placed to support regeneration of the region , driving economic prosperity and delivering lifechanging opportunities in the communities it serves .
“ It is also a great privilege to be trusted to build on the outstanding work of Professor Jane Turner .”
Growing the region ’ s skills provision Jo Burgess , a leading figure in the field of academic and industrial collaboration , joins as director of apprenticeships , with a remit to develop apprenticeship opportunities across the university and with industry .
Her previous role was at Innovate UK , the UK ’ s Innovation Agency , where she was head of innovation , talent and skills , responsible for directing public investment , shaping policy and leading crossgovernment talent and skills initiatives to enable the UK to deliver on its innovation capabilities
The newly created role of director of apprenticeships signals a step-change in the university ’ s ambitions for its acclaimed Higher and Degree Apprenticeship ( HDA ) provision .
Building on the strong reputation secured as an Ofsted Outstanding
Apprenticeship provider , Jo will grow the portfolio of programmes and consolidate the university ’ s position as a leading education training provider .
Teesside University currently offers around 30 Higher and Degree Apprenticeships , which are developed in partnership with industry and offer an alternative route for learners to develop high-level skills and training for a specific career .
Apprenticeships enable people to earn a salary and embark on a structured programme of learning and professional development , receiving academic support from the university and vocational support from their employers .
Jo said : “ Tees Valley ’ s reputation as a powerhouse for growth , attracting inward investment and delivering prosperity , grows by the day .
“ Teesside University is central to this continued success , as it is only through delivering a highly skilled workforce that the region can achieve its economic potential .
“ Building on our already outstanding reputation as an apprenticeship provider , we have ambitious plans to grow and develop our apprenticeship offer further . This will aim to provide the strong foundations of a highly skilled innovative
Leading figure – Jo Burgess has taken on Teesside University ’ s newly created role , director of apprenticeships . workforce , build leadership capability and develop partnerships to co-create a robust talent pipeline for the Tees Valley region and beyond .”
The benefits of studying an apprenticeship are widely recognised , with the government offering funding for apprenticeship courses due to the important role they play in upskilling workforces , stimulating economic growth and levelling up .
Teesside University offers a range of high-quality apprentices , with around 1,500 Teesside University learners undertaking a range of industry-leading programmes , from nursing and policing to computing and cyber security , with plans to develop this offer even further .
In 2019 , Teesside University became the first university to secure an outstanding Ofsted rating for its Higher Apprenticeships , receiving recognition for its dedication to shaping professional courses which ‘ meet the needs of employers ’.
Malcolm Page , chief operating officer at Teesside University , said : “ Since the creation of Higher and Degree Apprenticeship qualifications , Teesside University has been at the forefront of this initiative , recognising the valuable role they play in helping businesses upskill their workforce while offering learners an alternative route to a university education .
“ Teesside University is extremely proud of its Higher and Degree Apprenticeship provision and is committed to building this even further , which is why we have introduced the new director of apprenticeships role .”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 73