Region's Minister Praises Derby's 'Lively' University
30 June 2009
(l to r) University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Coyne, Minister for the East Midlands Phil Hope MP and David Wilson, Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Computer Games Modelling and Animation course, in one of the computer labs.
Derby is clearly a lively university, already focused on the kinds of things which are important to the Government now.
”Minister for the East Midlands Phil Hope MP
The University of Derby is already delivering the kind of economic help which will support its "critical" role in securing future jobs and growth in the region, says the Minister for the East Midlands.
Watch a video about Phil's visit
Phil Hope MP made the remarks during a visit to the University's Kedleston Road site, in Derby, yesterday (Monday 29 June), on the same day that Prime Minister Gordon Brown unveiled his Building Britain's Future report, a policy document aimed at improving public sector services and strengthening the economy.
Mr Hope was greeted by University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Coyne, who explained the different ways in which the University is supporting its graduates and the local economy.
These include:
- launching the University's business-to-business arm, University of Derby Corporate, last September (2008) to offer training and development expertise to regional companies, such as industry leader clockmakers Smith of Derby;
- a £250,000 Skills Development Fund being run by University of Derby Corporate to provide grants to businesses for development, leadership and management training;
- securing - with partners West Nottinghamshire, Derby, North Notts and Chesterfield further education colleges - Government funding towards a £2m training and education scheme to support unemployed graduates and professionals, people without higher education qualifications and businesses, and to extend the University's own Enterprise Scheme to help redundant professionals and graduates, or those facing unemployment.
Mr Hope was given a tour of the University's state of the art computer games development labs and the Games Studio. The latter pays computing students to develop games programmes for commercial contracts, both for the University and outside companies.
The Minister heard about the work of the University's Career Development Centre, in forging links with industry and arranging student internships to advance their careers. He spoke to members of photographic company Cactus Images, a business set up by Commercial Photography graduates and now based in the University business incubation unit, Banks Mill Studios.
Mr Hope then stopped in at a meeting of the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA), looking at regional support for graduates in the economic downturn, being held at the University.
Commenting on his visit Mr Hope said: "Derby is clearly a lively University, already focused on the kinds of things which are important to the Government now. Namely, in providing practical help for people experiencing pressure in the economic downturn and in planning for the future, for the coming economic recovery, by providing its graduates with the skills that will be needed.
"Today's announcement by the Prime Minister deals with jobs and investment for the future. What we're seeing in Derby is a University that will play a critical role, along with other Universities in the region, in securing future jobs and growth."
Professor Coyne added: "We were delighted to welcome Mr Hope here to show him the exciting and important work being done at the University.
"We're very keen to see that the wide range of skills among its staff and students are put to good use, helping the region weather the current economic difficulties."
For further media information please contact Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk.
