Times Higher Award makes a difference

THELMA LogoA consortium of Northern universities has been declared the most Outstanding Knowledge Transfer team in British universities at the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards in London.  Knowledge 'transfer' or 'exchange', is the process by which universities interact with business and the community to meet the needs of society.  

The Making a Difference programme drew together four large universities in the North of England - Northumbria University, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Central Lancashire and Salford University. A diverse academic team of more than 200 experts was mobilised to help tackle some of the biggest issues affecting society. Its focus was in Northern British cities which face similar challenges in economic and social regeneration. Last week, at a prestigious award ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London's Park Lane, it was declared the winner.

Making a Difference led to 46 projects which involved collaboration with more than 600 external organisations. Its principal themes were Community Cohesion, Crime, Enterprise and Health.

The scheme has already created more than eighty new jobs and a total of 1,265 days of community training were provided by the universities with sessions covering social entrepreneurship, leadership skills and business skills.

Awards Presentation

From left to right: Alexander Armstrong (compere) Sarah O'Donnell (Manchester Metropolitan University) Professor James Powell OBE (University of Salford) Bede Mullen (University of Central Lancashire) Professor Oisin MacNamara (Northumbria University) and Ewart Wooldridge CBE (Leadership Foundation for Higher Education & award sponsor). 
 
The Chair of the Management Group, Professor Oisin MacNamara, who is Professor of Knowledge Transfer at Northumbria University, said: "Many of the projects focused on communities at the gravest risk of being disadvantaged - migrants, workless people living in relative poverty, people living in areas of multiple deprivation and children living in areas with low educational aspirations and attainment. We also worked with young offenders and children in schools, creating opportunities for policy makers to listen to what they have to say, and to raise aspirations."

The ten projects in the Crime theme of Making a Difference sought to tackle the social and environmental issues surrounding crime and its consequences. Individual projects helped excluded pupils to develop, deterred young people from crime, improved community safety and supported organisations dealing with alcohol abuse and domestic violence.

The Enterprise theme delivered ten projects helping small and medium sized enterprises, including social enterprises, to gain access to funding and win contracts. Potential entrepreneurs were also encouraged to deliver innovation within a business environment.

Community Cohesion projects focussed on communities at risk of being disadvantage through weak community cohesion - migrants, workless people living in relative poverty, different generations within minority community families,  people living in areas of multiple deprivation and children living in areas with low educational aspirations and attainment.  Fifteen Community Cohesion projects were driven by the needs of the local communities at risk of being disadvantaged from a range of inter-connected problems.  The projects tackled covered issues such as workless people living in relative poverty, different generations within minority communities, people living in areas of multiple deprivation and children living in areas with low educational aspirations and attainment.  These projects enabled and empowered people, groups and public services to gain insights into themselves and others.  

The North of England has some of the worst health profiles in the UK, with startling inequalities. Making a Difference included projects which tackled the wider causes of poor health, including housing, poverty, transport and employment. Thirteen Health projects dealt with issues including dementia care, women's mental health, offender health, partnership working for health, caring for older people and understanding the role of health in urban regeneration.


Ewart Wooldridge, former Chief Executive of the Leadership Foundation for HE said: "What convinced the judges was the sheer scale and diversity of the initiative. This is a vivid story of knowledge transfer and exchange, deeply embedded in challenging communities, demonstrating the tangible benefits that can arise from universities, local authorities and communities opening up their worlds to each other and building the most fascinating web of partnerships."

This pioneering and award-winning scheme was supported by the Strategic Development Fund of the Higher Education Funding Council for England.