USW Partnership and Engagement
USW Partnership & Engagement Programme
The USW Partnership & Engagement Programme, funded by HEFCW, is a simple-to-access scheme providing funded scoping and feasibility support from University of South Wales' experts. The programme aims to enhance and grow sustainable partnerships and collaborations with the University of South Wales by fully-funding early-stage collaborative activity.
Benefit from up to £1,500 of funded support
There are 4 key strands of activity for which funded support can be accessed. These are: Economic Growth & Prosperity; Enhancing Workforce Skills; Establishing Industry-Academic Partnerships, and Civic Prosperity & Engagement. Each strand makes available up to £500 worth of support from USW, the equivalent of 8 hours of expert intervention.
1. enhancing workforce skills with CPD & training
By undertaking a funded skills audit/training needs assessment, leading to the design of commercial CPD or training intervention that addresses skills gaps.
3. Developing Industry-Academic Partnerships
By undertaking strategic relationship mapping; facilitated technical facility tours; expertise-led showcase events, resulting in scoping paper or partnership proposal.
2. Enhancing economic growth & prosperity
By connecting to expertise to support scoping & feasibility of new products, processes or innovations; identifying next steps e.g. further research funding or consultancy.
4. Enabling civic prosperity & engagement
By working to understand regional challenges, seeking to develop proposals for interventions to strengthen communities and their economic resilience.
Developing Future Collaborations and Partnerships
The aim of this programme is to increase industry-academic collaboration and partnerships, whilst supporting the delivery of positive economic impacts for Wales.
Initial early-stage activity such as scoping, feasibility and diagnostic is fully funded & explored alongside our team of experts. Following this activity, our dedicated Engagement Managers will support you to take this further by developing a pathway for further ongoing engagement. This may include:
- Developing industry-university partnerships
- Identifying collaborative research opportunities
- Signposting to follow-on funding opportunities
- Provision of contract research or consultancy
- Design and delivery of commercial CPD or training
- Access to USW's technical facilities
Supporting Multiple Strands
Applications can request funding for between 1 to 3 strands (i.e between £500 to £1,500 funded support), where organisations clearly articulate how the proposed collaboration will deliver outcomes across each of the strand themes they are applying to.
Each strand of work will result in a scoping/feasibility paper, or CPD/skills development plan, or proposal for continued collaboration and next steps.
Supporting a Post-COVID Recovery
As part of the University’s strategy to support businesses through the economic recovery period, businesses will not be required to provide 'match funding' during year one of this programme (Aug 21 - July 22).
How the Programme works:
Our aim is to support as many businesses as possible to benefit from the Partnership and Engagement Programme. With this in mind, the process is as simple as possible, and paperwork is kept to a minimum. If you'd like to discuss suitability of your proposal for the programme first, our team can be contacted here.
1. application
You can submit your application directly to USW Exchange, or our engagement team can support you in developing the application.
2. approval
Your application is reviewed by USW Exchange within 14 days and you will receive an acknowledgement of your application based on the criteria laid out in the provided guidance document.
3. delivery
Once approved by USW Exchange we will connect with our academics for their consideration of your proposal.
4. next steps
Following this support we'll ask you to complete a second short form considering further opportunities to build on this work.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Find the most commonly asked questions about the Partnership and Engagement Programme below. Have a question we haven't covered? Simply drop us an email or give us a call on 01443 482266 to speak with a member of our business engagement team.
Apply now:
To request an application form & guidance pack and to discuss a proposal for the Partnership and Engagement Programme contact the USW Exchange team now on [email protected] or by calling 01443 482266.
Pontypridd
USW Exchange,
Llantwit Road,
Treforest,
Pontypridd CF37 1DL
Newport
USW Exchange,
Usk Way,
Newport,
NP20 2BP
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