Leeds Beckett agrees ‘strategic alliance’ with local FE group

Leeds Beckett University has joined forces with a local further education group to help boost student numbers and improve links into local businesses.

The institution announced a “strategic alliance” with the Luminate Education Group on 6 July.

Combining efforts in areas such as schools outreach within the local region will “widen aspiration and encourage people to make the right choices”, whether that is studying at the university or at one of the group’s colleges, according to Leeds Beckett vice-chancellor Peter Slee.

This is particularly true at a time when universities across the sector are battling a serious downturn in international student numbers – with Leeds Beckett therefore increasingly keen to appeal to local applicants.

“It’s been clear to us since Covid that the majority of our students are increasingly local; the cost of higher education isn’t easy for many families,” Slee told Times Higher Education.

“We’ve noticed for instance this year the number of applications we’ve had from within a 25-30 mile radius has more or less doubled…I think that’s becoming a trend simply because many students can no longer afford to live so far from home,” he said, adding that the new partnership will “help with those transitions for everyone concerned”.

The strategic alliance, which Slee stressed did not represent a merger, will see Leeds Beckett and the Luminate Education Group combine their knowledge of local schools and employers to improve their networks across the Leeds City Region.

Luminate’s members include University Centre Leeds, which offers a range of higher education and foundation courses, and Leeds Conservatoire, as well as Leeds City College and Harrogate College, among others.

The move comes at a time when the likely next UK prime minister, Andy Burnham, has placed increasing importance on the higher education and further education sectors working together.

Collaborative efforts will include designing new courses in partnership with nearby businesses and the potential for some sharing of facilities.

“We think we can join together…work particularly around apprenticeships, where we offer obviously higher-level apprenticeships and our colleagues at Luminate [offer] other levels of apprenticeship, and yet the same employers are recruiting across the spectrum – so we think we can join up there,” Slee said.

He added: “Our colleagues at Luminate have waiting lists for courses in engineering and health and social care. We think we can probably do something around shared facilities to unblock access for young people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to follow the career path they’ve chosen.”

Asked whether the alliance will mean any kind of reduction in staff numbers at either organisation, Slee was clear that there would be no changes to employee numbers.

Both will also retain their independence and control over their own budgets as well as separate degree-awarding powers, although Slee will join the Luminate board while the chief executive there, Bill Jones, will join the board overseeing Leeds Beckett.

In a statement, Jones said combining their efforts would address skills gap concerns in the region.

“By collaborating with Leeds Beckett University we can respond to local and regional skills priorities, through the development of new courses and routes that meet the needs of employers,” he said. “Our alliance will bring together our shared commitment to opening up access to education and removing any barriers to learning.”

georgia.luckhurst@timeshighereducation.com