Creating Prosperity: the role of higher education in driving

the UK’s creative economy

UKADIA ConferenceLondon, 8 February 2011

the creative economy

major employer - strong and consistent growth pervasive creativity knowledge-intensive and well-educated multidisciplinary driving shift to digital economy large numbers of small, entrepreneurial businesses and

fluid freelance labour pool

policy issues

strong and consistent focus on creative industries at UK level (although coalition cuts)

increasing focus on impact in HE policy mismatch between the two policy drivers Browne and CSR implications very serious for CIs –

ongoing STEM bias

creative economy – key drivers

Innovation innovation crucial – not just technology but also business models and creative practice open, collaborative, multidisciplinary and iterative difficult to isolate and measure innovation support still based on linear models

Skills and entrepreneurship self-employment is high high expectation for lifelong learning technological change multidisciplinary skills (including STEM) CPD challenges for small, fragmented business base entrepreneurship crucial driver

HE’s contribution

Six overlapping propositions:

HE is a source of new ideas and practices that drive innovation HE adapting new models of interaction within creative economy universities are regional hubs for innovation and growth of

creative clusters HE is the primary source of talent for the creative economy employability and enterprise and growing areas of focus for HE HE is an important providers of CPD for CIs

1. new ideas and practices

a very wide range of HE research contributes to the creative economy this research is high quality with strong economic, social and cultural

impact much of this research is multidisciplinary (e.g. DEP), bridging gaps

between science, technology, creativity and business

research assessment mechanisms do not always capture full value of this research

although investment is increasing, still modest compared to science multidisciplinary research difficult to structure and deliver

2. new models of interaction

CIs most frequently targeted sector in HEI KE strategies collaboration, consultancy, CPD and access to facilities rather

than commercialisation – people-based and informal strong industry partnerships networks and subscription models

this activity doesn’t always reward academics demand issues problematic – fragmented SME base and low

awareness of HE expertise some funding streams here under real pressure

3. innovation hubs and clusters

scale, permanence and credibility makes HEIs good anchors for regional clusters

natural focal points for formal and informal networks integrated programmes of research, knowledge exchange and

enterprise support and training physical space often important as safe space to experiment and

collaborate international reach and reputation of HEIs can benefit SME

partners

real funding challenges re RDAs and ERDF

4. talent

talent is not just born – its needs to be developed growing industry involvement at all stages of education process greater emphasis on multidisciplinary education – PG level

mismatch between industry expectations and HE’s understanding of its role

high unit of costs of some creative disciplines Browne and CSR major threat to creative education multidisciplinary education challenging – need for new solutions

5. employability and enterprise

embedding opportunities for practical learning within courses entrepreneurship skills also inherent in a creative education HEIs well placed to support enterprise – incubation, access to

knowledge and facilities and business support

entrepreneurship education still uneven across HE and lack of common standards

challenges in consistency of quality in placements and in securing enough placements

funding again an issue

6. HE as a provider of CPD

CDP is a growing opportunity for HE, and a common feature of many knowledge exchange initiatives

creative professionals expect to be involved in lifelong learning....but

industry demand for CDP is less well articulated and costs can be a barrier

academic qualifications have appeal for individuals and employers

conclusions – research and innovation academic research contributes vital understanding and knowledge

that supports growth and innovation in the creative economy research outputs find application right across the economy growing focus on multidisciplinary research and KE widespread and multifaceted engagement between HEIs and CIs –

collaborative, iterative and people based regional hubs for innovation with space for experimentation and

collaboration

but – research funding (STEM focus); impact and assessment; multidisciplinary working; supply and demand issues; and KE funding

conclusions – skills, employability and entrepreneurship

major source of talent and skills – appropriate role of HE industry engagement and involvement in education process multidisciplinary education – STEM and creativity work-related learning value of the creative education process entrepreneurship, CPD and enterprise support all evident

but....Browne and CSR; industry/academia divide; demand-side issues (placements and CPD); entrepreneurship education; and wider funding (eg RDAs)

recommendations

20 recommendations designed to address: policy bias towards STEM teaching and research funding multidisciplinary working (teaching and research) industry engagement wider partnerships around the role of HE

full report (Creating Prosperity) available to download on the Universities UK website:

http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Publications/Pages/CreatingProsperitytheroleofhighereducation.aspx

discussion

what are the real priorities for the sector and for HE?

what does this mean for your institution?

how can you engage a fragmented sector in ways that are economically viable?