Upper Quartile\'s work in the education sector: Higher education and economic development

1. HIGHER EDUCATION & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CAPABILITY STATEMENT
2011
7-9 North St David Street Edinburgh
United Kingdom EH2 1AW
Tel: +44(0)131 524 9640
Web: www.upperquartile.co.uk

2. Higher Education & Economic Development
Knowledge & Innovation Investment into research capability is increasing globally as a key driver for
economic and business growth. Developing expert knowledge and highly
skilled people drives innovation and competitive advantage in the wider
economy. Whether focused on developing new research themes or new
curricula, industry-education partnerships are increasingly relevant, symbiotic
and rewarding. Recent research evidence indicates that university research
generates a significantly higher return on investment in publicly funded
research grants than in other areas of government-supported R&D.
Upper Quartile is working with several leading universities in developing
strategic partnerships and unlocking the commercial potential of the
knowledge base.
Higher Education Sector The higher and further education sector is increasingly recognised in its own
right as an essential component of any economic development
strategy. It is one route to knowledge transfer between the developed and
developing worlds, where the educational resources of the older established
universities in the West can assist in increasing the human potential of
developing countries. But this is increasingly done on a true partnership
basis, with exchange of faculty and students, and the developing world
offering specialist research opportunities to the relationship. Upper
Quartile is working with Universities and Colleges in India, the US and the UK
to help them develop productive international relationships, as well as focus
their own internal strategies.
Skills & Vocational Delivering skills development and vocational training that is valued by both
Training the trainees and the business community is recognised as the key to support
private sector growth, while also developing sustainable employment
opportunities. Businesses now have wide choices, as the university and
college sectors offer tailored vocational training packages, to supplement
multiple private sector providers. Training provision is also global, with
flexible and on-line learning now the norm, regardless of the location of the
accreditation body. For organisations investing in training, decisions need to
be made on the design and cost, the most appropriate delivery mechanisms,
likely benefits and appropriate funding structures. Upper Quartile is
working with private sector, government and international development
clients on devising the most cost effective way of ensuring that investment in
training delivers sustainable and measurable value.
Capability Statement 2011

3. Case Studies Knowledge & Innovation
Co-operation between education and industry
Renewable Energy in the Highlands Heriot-Watt University – Know-
& Islands, UK How2
We recently undertook economic appraisals of projects in the Upper Quartile was appointed to undertake a needs analysis of
renewable energy sector for the new University of the future skills and competencies required by the Scottish textile
Highlands in Scotland. These covered establishing the industry, with particular reference to the School of Textiles &
economic benefits of two projects – the Centre for Energy Design. Upper Quartile devised and undertook a focused
and the Environment (CfEE) teaching and research building industry survey. Drawing on this and wider expertise, a
at the UHI’s Thurso campus; and the Marine and Renewable summary and recommendations were delivered. Findings were
Energy and the Environment project (MaREE), which aims presented at an EU level meeting as part of a ‘Transfer of
to establish a test-bed for industrial projects in sub-sea tidal Innovation’ EU funded project.
stream renewable energy. The feasibility and potential
benefits of these investments were assessed for the UHI and Creative & Design Industries
its co-funder, Highlands & Islands Enterprise. The projects Workshops
have since been implemented to establish world leading
centres in their fields. Upper Quartile devised and delivered a series of workshops for
Highlands & Islands Enterprise aimed at design, fashion and
Scottish Academy of Fashion creative businesses, addressing areas of knowledge gaps and
market failure. A team of industry experts delivered sessions
Upper Quartile has been engaged as consultant on an
covering product design, industry trends, marketing and PR,
ambitious project to establish a global ‘centre of excellence’
sourcing and ethics/fair trade. Following strong feedback from
in applied research and knowledge transfer activities. This
businesses which attended a series of workshops in 2009,
involves six of Scotland’s leading universities, industry and
Upper Quartile delivered further events on behalf of HIE in
international partners, and is driving the creation of a new
2010.
model of engagement between universities and industry.
Critical successes to date include securing development
Strategic Action Plan for University-
funding from Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Funding
Industry Engagement
Council, the support of key industrial partners including UK
Fashion Textiles, and the delivery of network-building
Upper Quartile was engaged to develop a strategic action plan
activities. Upper Quartile have facilitated several industrial
for the School of Textiles & Design at Heriot-Watt University,
collaborations now underway with lead academic partners
Edinburgh in 2010. The plan is focused on identifying activities
Heriot Watt University and Edinburgh School of Art.
based on research and teaching strengths, that will drive new
engagement with industry. Upper Quartile is developing
appropriate output targets within a fully-costed Action Plan,
based on financial, economic impact and educational
measures. Workshops were undertaken with staff to ensure
their proactive involvement and ownership of the project, and
extensive consultations held with key staff and stakeholders.
Capability Statement 2011

4. Case Studies Higher Education Sector
Governance and competitiveness in higher education
University Funding Higher Education Governance
Strategy
Personnel within the Upper Quartile team have served in
The University of the Highlands & Islands’ college on the Isle various governance and advisory capacities in the higher
of Skye, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, teaches a wide range of subjects education sector in the UK. These include the Scottish Higher
from business and administration to culture and history Education Funding Council’s research grants Committee,
through the medium of the minority Gaelic language. Upper allocating £ millions for research to Scottish Universities;
Quartile prepared a Funding Strategy aimed at attracting working on the project teams for establishing a new university;
new and diverse sources of finance to the University in times advising on the creation of new higher education courses; and
of declining support from central government. As well as acting as external examiners and research mentors.
identifying key areas, the plan focussed on concrete steps
necessary to implement the plan and achieve outputs. 2011 UHI: Stakeholder Engagement
& Development for CRRS
Indian Colleges linking with UK Stakeholder Management &
Higher Education Development
Upper Quartile is working with various universities, higher
Upper Quartile was retained by the Centre for Rural and
education colleges and foundations in north and south India
Remote Studies, part of Inverness College UHI, to assess
to set up strategic partnerships with UK universities. This
opportunities to develop and harness opportunities to develop
will result in the exchange of students and faculty staff, and
new stakeholder engagement and potential revenue streams,
the joint delivery of courses and research projects. The work
and increase the profile of the Centre through targeted and
involves devising programmes and business models, and
effective stakeholder management and development. The
implementing them with college and university boards in
research focused on the key stakeholders and bodies engaged
India and the UK.
in rural Scotland, particularly at the political and policy level,
and delivered a series of recommendations as to how effective
Competitive Analysis of Course stakeholder development could be developed and managed
Provision going forward.
Upper Quartile undertook a competitive analysis of design
related postgraduate taught course provision at Edinburgh
College of Art. This was aimed at informing the college’s
proposed development of market-driven courses. While
primarily focused on UK experience, the report also identified
leading examples of international provision and best practice.
Capability Statement 2011

5. Case Studies Skills & Vocational Training
Improving skills for economic development
Tanzania Public Service Textiles Skills & Training
Management Programme
The Public Service Management department of the Tanzanian Upper Quartile project-managed a European Social Fund (ESF)
President’s Office is introducing a Senior Executive Service funded project, designing and implementing training initiatives
(SES) into the Tanzanian public service structure. Upper delivering tangible benefit to the Harris Tweed textiles sector.
Quartile and its partners in Tanzania were commissioned in With the local authority (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) and
2010 to design a SES and make recommendations on how Highlands & Islands Enterprise as lead clients, Upper
it could be introduced. The project has involved examining Quartile worked with key training providers to develop and
good practice in other countries, and discussions with public deliver a suite of skills development and training initiatives to
service leaders throughout the country. It has identified the build skills and capacity in the tweed industry. By fostering a
appropriate structure, membership, training and development partnership approach with relevant agencies, Upper Quartile
needs, recruitment methods and performance management secured further investment into the project, increasing the
systems for the SES. The work has also developed strategies project fund by 25%, and ensuring that skills and training
for ensuring acceptance of the SES by the political and civil solutions are co-ordinated with other initiatives to assist the
service establishment. longer term implementation and embedding of new skills.
Education in Afghanistan Maldives skills certification and ICT
training
Upper Quartile was commissioned by DFID in June 2010
to review the training and vocational education system in
The Upper Quartile team has worked with the Government of
Afghanistan and make recommendations on the most
the Maldives in Malé on establishing the costs and benefits of
appropriate form of support. The country’s vocational training
information and communications technologies (ICT) training
system is currently inadequate to support economic growth.
programmes. The framework of certification required to
Its weakness also contributes to a growing pool of
implement this, including the setting of benchmark skills and
unemployed and disaffected young men who are then more
Competencies were also examined.
easily tempted into crime and violence, creating wider social
and economic problems. DFID has recognised the urgent
need to tackle the issue and Upper Quartile helped define
what the priorities for intervention should be. We particularly
recommended an emphasis on short-term training for the
unemployed and under-employed, with parallel investment in
the broader vocational training system and infrastructure, to
build longer term capacity. The project played an important
role in shaping the UK Government’s position at the Kabul
Conference of July 2010.
Capability Statement 2011