The University of Worcester recently hosted senior officials from the Office for Students (OfS) for discussions about its civic mission and innovative partnerships.
Ruth Hannant, Joint Chief Executive of the OfS, visited the University alongside Board member Andrew Wilson and Senior Private Secretary Paige Clarkson. They were given a tour of the University by Vice Chancellor Professor David Green CBE and Pro Vice Chancellor Jane Britton, and were particularly impressed by The Hive, a unique place-based partnership between the University of Worcester and Worcestershire County Council, bringing together higher education, public libraries, local government services, and youth employment and opportunity services in a single civic institution.
The visit coincided with the day Andy Burnham was confirmed as Prime Minister, prompting discussion about the themes of common purpose and civic responsibility. The University highlighted the importance of civic engagement and partnership working in delivering opportunities and positive outcomes for communities, demonstrating how universities are well-placed to bring organisations together for the public good.
“It’s been really interesting to see how embedded the University is within its community,” Ruth said. “The Hive is really impressive and a really interesting approach. It was wonderful to see it so lively, full of people, and so welcoming.”
Andrew Wilson said: “I was struck by the imaginative hands-on approaches to immersive and interactive learning – and how they can be used to build skills and confidence in a safe environment.”
Professor David Green said: “The Hive demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations work together for a common purpose. It is a civic institution in the truest sense, bringing together education, opportunity, culture, skills and public services under one roof for the benefit of the people of Worcestershire.
“Much of our civic work is not driven by regulation or external requirements. We do it because we believe universities should be active participants in the life of their communities. It reflects our commitment to our civic mission, our responsibilities as a good citizen, and our determination to inspire future generations.”
During the visit, the OfS representatives were also shown a new immersive suite at the Severn Campus, which enables teams of medical and health professional students to simulate interprofessional working across a wide variety of healthcare settings, from Accident and Emergency departments to operating theatres, as well as high-tech medical training equipment funded through a £2.5 million capital grant from the OfS.
“It was interesting to be able to see how the funding we provided has been spent and is helping to improve students’ practice,” Ruth said.
Reflecting on the visit, Ruth added: “What we saw was how many partnerships the University has, including The Hive, but also with many health and education organisations, which showed how much the University is embedded in its community.”