Coventry University’s vice-chancellor has told a group of MPs that skills development needs to be at the forefront of any new industrial strategy planned by the Government.
John Latham was speaking to the House of Commons’ cross-party committee for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Invited to give evidence in his role as chairman of the West Midlands Combined Universities group, Mr Latham told the MPs that “the skills agenda needs to be ahead of the curve, not following behind”.
He said: “Universities must engage. We need to look at new programmes and new opportunities — around apprenticeship degrees, for example. A good industrial strategy will provide opportunities for generations, not just the next few years.
“There is a need to work with industry and business to up-skill the existing workforce. It’s not just about undergraduates and postgraduates being job-ready and employed. There is a bigger group already in work in whom universities can invest.
“The ‘faculty on the factory floor’ partnership between Coventry University and Unipart is one example of this. Our students are part of that working environment, but we also have four research teams there.
“They help bring ideas and innovation to market more quickly and nimbly. The partnership helps to up-skill the wider workforce.”