Links with employers rewarded

New ways to improve links between universities and employers have been rewarded under the Department for Education and Employment's Higher Education Innovations Fund, worth Pounds 8 million.

Baroness Blackstone, education and employment minister, said that the 50 successful two-year projects are designed to make higher education work harder for students and business.

"Often employers - particularly small employers - fail to understand the benefits, such as new impressions, innovation and talent, that graduates can bring to their businesses. Equally, graduates don't always understand what skills they will need to secure good careers and make an impact," she said.

The bids were considered under three categories: equal opportunities, employer relationships and making change happen.

Coventry University has been awarded approximately Pounds 188,000 to develop an online mentoring service for disabled graduates.

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals has received Pounds 207,328 to develop its study into the university admissions service.

Leeds University's law department will use its funding to develop a toolkit to combat institutional racism.

The Open University plans to use its Pounds 280,535 award to fund a study into graduate employment.