Bournemouth University brought representatives from around 80 businesses across the region together last week to share ideas on how to navigate uncertainty in the current economic climate.
The event reflected on the history of entrepreneurship across the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole conurbation and explored how change and innovation can ensure business can find their competitive edge.
Professor Alison Honour, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of Bournemouth University, opened the event by explaining the changes and uncertainty in the Higher Education sector that BU needs to navigate.
"We are at a point in HE where we are going to have to change the way we work and the way in which we deliver our business model to meet the needs of students and employers," she said.
As well as explaining the financial challenges resulting from domestic tuition fees being worth significantly less in real terms today, and concerns among students about student loans and the cost of living, she explained how the market place in higher education has changed:
"Some young people don't see work the way we may have done in the past. They see a gig economy, they see a portfolio career as the way they want to work into the future. It is also hard for 16 to 18 years to be able to confidently say what they want to do as a future career and at the same time, many are keen to enter into employment as soon as possible. So we have all of these challenges to meet the expectations of young people coming to universities.”
She also explained to the business representatives in the room that working with them will be vital to meet these challenges.
"Universities need to work in partnership with business and be that catalyst for regional innovation. We need to be innovating together.
"We have a key role to work with our SMEs and to provide the graduates with the skills that you need, to co-develop our curriculum and hopefully co-deliver it with you. If we can provide our graduates with the opportunities to stay in our region, they will."
Matt Desmier, Business Engagement & Knowledge Exchange Manager at Bournemouth University who organised the event said, “The region has a long history of innovation, whether that be in the fields of engineering and manufacturing, as evidenced by the likes of Siemens, Lush and Sunseeker; or with pioneering financial services, such as JP Morgan, LV= and Vitality.
“And let’s not forget that Poole was the birthplace of wireless technology and our expertise in digital technologies stem from that.
“All of these areas are reflected in the academic provisions across Bournemouth University, giving the business community a real opportunity to use the institute as an engine of innovation, helping drive local economic growth.”
Other speakers included:
Sam Conniff, author of the best-selling book Be More Pirate and the co-founder of Uncertainty Experts, which is backed by Netflix, Sam has a unique perspective of change and uncertainty.
Mark Earls, the author of several books on human behaviour, one of the co-founders of St Luke’s and previously Global Head of Strategy for Ogilvy and Mather.
Christine Armstrong, a regular vlogger on on LinkedIn, who shares incredibly useful information helping recipients navigate change.
The event was held at the NICI hotel on Friday 27 September.
