Features and comment

As we gear up for our annual graduation ceremonies, the vital role universities play in their regions has never been clearer.

With the government intent on kickstarting economic growth and productivity, could Knowledge Transfer Partnerships with leading universities have a vital role to play?

This week we welcomed thousands of new and returning students to the University. There’s always a slightly more vibrant feel to the city when students arrive, a buzz that’s somewhat missing during the quieter summer months.

This week, Rachel Reeves will deliver her first multi-year Spending Review as Chancellor, setting out each government departments' budget for the next three to four years. Universities up and down the country, including those here in Yorkshire, will be listening carefully to what she has to say.

Dan Lally, Deputy COO at Sheffield Hallam University –one of the country’s largest higher and degree apprenticeship providers – discusses working with businesses and unlocking investment into Yorkshire through skills and training.

In recent months, Sheffield's two universities launched the £4m South Yorkshire Innovation Programme (SYIP) to help local businesses and organisations of all sizes to collaborate and innovate.

At a time when demand for its services is growing rapidly, the NHS is facing an acute shortage of skilled staff. Could degree apprenticeships, in which students train on the job in the health service, be the answer?

By Dean Naidoo, Associate Head of the Sheffield Creative Industries Institute at Sheffield Hallam University

The UK stands at a critical crossroads in public health. As we face rising rates of preventable conditions and widening health inequalities, it's becoming increasingly clear that our traditional approach to healthcare - one that prioritises treatment over prevention - is no longer sustainable.

Yorkshire has a major role to play in Britain’s economic future, of that there is no doubt, but we need to understand the challenges we face if we want to seize the opportunity. Economic growth in our part of the world is particularly reliant on high-skilled jobs, and having people available to fill those jobs.