Education and Training

UK universities play a central role in delivering this agenda – proving policy context, setting out and contributing to building pathways to solutions to grand challenges and providing the drivers to unlock UK economic growth and wider societal impact. Undoubtedly, for delivery to be successful it needs to be underpinned by an enhanced ‘Quadrable Helix Model’ of interventions and programmes that bring together government, universities, business, societal participant and investors in new ways.

With over 25 years of experience working with policy makers, funders, universities and industry, WECD has played a significant role in informing and shaping innovation and knowledge exchange thinking that drives and unlocks economic growth. WECD uses this wealth of experience, insights and networks in the public and private sectors to develop unique packages of support for UK universities to help: gather and present robust evidence, produce impactful case studies and new insights to inform policy makers, support knowledge transfer and partnerships, assess local markets and international prospects, and develop future growth scenarios and implications for investment and resourcing.

The WECD approach is to work hand-in-hand with universities and research establishments. Our project teams bring together expertise in economic research and analysis, preparation of business cases (for funding and investment), economic and physical regeneration, place and sites development, property related issues, business support and innovation, community engagement and partnerships development. Examples of our work include:

Formative evaluation, capacity building and evidence review of the OfS Catalyst Fund Addressing Barriers to Student Success (ABSS) programme (including issues related to social mobility).
Assessing the Impacts of KTP Associates and the Knowledge Base on the UK Economy (for Innovate UK) – with our work involving over 100 higher education providers across the country for over two years.
The Review of the Prime Minister’s International Education initiatives and the UK China Partners in Education Programme (for the UK central government/DfE and DBT) – working with government officials and providers in both the UK and China.
Mapping and measuring the UK Higher Education Transnational Education provision (TNE) Scale and Scope (for UUKi and the British Council) – three biennial reports including facts and figures and case studies from UK HE collaborations across the world.
The independent evaluation of the UK Government’s Internationalisation Fund (for the UK central government/DBT) – a large UK-EU funded programme aiming to support UK businesses in preparation of our exit from the EU and over the pandemic period, with our work involving working closely with government officials, regional and local organisations and business support providers across the UK over three years.
Quality Research (QR) GCRF Higher Education Providers’ Strategies Assessment (for RE) – developing assessment tools compatible with the Sustainable Development Goals and UK commitments and thoroughly assessing approximately 120 strategies.

The economic case (potential economic impacts) for public investment in the Square Kilometre Array telescope at Jodrell Bank in Manchester (for STFC).