A new vision to drive growth and strengthen Medway’s higher education collaboration has the backing of key organisations.
Medway Council, MidKent College, University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University and University of Greenwich have joined forces to strengthen their long-standing partnership in providing higher education opportunities across Medway.
The Universities at Medway is a unique collaboration between Canterbury Christ Church University, the University of Greenwich, the University of Kent and MidKent College. Together, they provide world-class teaching and research, with 8,000 students and 600 staff in Chatham, focussing on science and engineering, health and the creative industries.
Since the first students enrolled in 2005, the partnership has brought new opportunities to the heart of North Kent, a nationally important growth zone, as well as collaborations with industry across Kent, the South-East and beyond, and is a key anchor of the local economy.
More than 20 years on from the launch of the Universities at Medway, there is a need to refresh the shared vision in the light of: North Kent’s growth potential, the continued need to widen access to higher education, the recently announced merger between the University of Greenwich and the University of Kent, and the expansion of Canterbury Christ Church’s academic portfolio.
On Wednesday, 1 July, all parties involved in the collaboration came together to sign a copy of the vision, which marks the way forward until 2035, and extends the mission set out when the Universities at Medway were first created.
Cllr Vince Maple signing the vision on behalf of Medway Council.
The new vision focuses on three themes:
- Advancing social mobility, inclusion and progression, enabling people to access a greater stake in the future of their local economy through HE/FE integration.
- Advancing economic growth, by supporting our growth sectors and businesses (including in advanced engineering, life sciences and medical technologies, agritech and food technologies, and creative and cultural industries).
- Advancing health and public services, in the context of population growth and demographic change.
The five fundamental organisations will work even closer together to support local opportunities, widen access to higher education, create more opportunities for people to engage in education in different ways, and enable people to have a greater role in the future of the local economy. The shared vision brings together the universities and college’s specialisms and capabilities to create a comprehensive higher education offer for Medway, and North Kent.
Medway Council works closely with the college and universities, and is partnered with the Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS) to provide fully-funded scholarships for Medway students to study the Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Medicine course.
Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council, said: “Medway Council was instrumental in the creation of the Universities at Medway and remains proud of the higher education provision provided locally and its role to provide opportunities for its residents, as well as a skilled workforce.
“North Kent’s population has grown at a faster rate than the national average over the past 20 years, and is anticipated to further expand over the coming decade. Despite this, the area still faces a workforce qualifications deficit. The collaboration has a strengthened focus on meeting local economic needs and opportunities through closer working with businesses, supporting local and regional economic priorities, which is consistent with the Government’s Industrial Strategy.
“The structure of local government will be changing in 2028, with proposals for larger unitary authorities overseeing strategic economic development, covering a bigger geographical footprint. Looking to 2035, both the new council and the future strategic authority will be key partners for the Universities at Medway, and all will have a role in realising the universities’ economic, social and civic mission.”
Simon Cook, Principal and CEO, MidKent College, said: “This shared vision reflects our collective ambition to create more opportunities for people across Medway and North Kent, whatever stage they are at in their education or career. By strengthening the links between further education, higher education and employers, we can help more people develop the skills, confidence and qualifications that will drive our communities and economy forward for years to come.”
Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor of University of Greenwich, said: “I believe it is the civic duty of a university to give back to the community it thrives in, making the lives of those who live on its doorstep better. In Medway, our unique collaboration will continue to deliver that improvement through a focus on working together.
“We have already established a productive relationship between higher education, further education, local authorities, employers and civic organisations in the region. By continuing to build on those relationships, the universities at Medway can be the driving force behind the growth for this fantastic part of the country.”
Professor Claire Ozanne, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Canterbury Christ Church University, said: "We're delighted to enter into a new era of collaboration with our University at Medway partners and Medway Council, as we shape a more prosperous future for Medway and north Kent. By working together we can drive meaningful change and sustainable economic growth, expand access to higher education, and create more opportunities for local people to build rewarding and successful careers. Our graduates will be equipped with the high-level skills needed to meet the evolving health and social care needs of our communities, helping our region thrive for generations to come."
Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, Acting Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Kent, said: “Some of the biggest challenges facing our communities can’t be tackled by one organisation alone. That’s why this partnership matters. By working together over the past 20 years, we’ve created opportunities for students, supported local employers and made a lasting contribution to Medway Kent.
“Vision 2035 reflects our shared commitment to building on that success. By continuing to work closely with our partners, we can widen access to higher education, strengthen the region’s skills base and help ensure more people can build their future here.”