St David’s Day Declaration

Universities renew commitment to drive forward Wales’ knowledge economy

Wales’ leading universities will help mark St David’s Day by renewing their joint commitment to drive forward Wales’ knowledge economy.

The St David’s Day Declaration signed in 2009 by Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Glamorgan and Swansea universities committed the universities to act together, combining their strengths and talents in research and innovation to enhance the knowledge economy in Wales.

Together the five universities represent over 70% of all students in Wales and more than 95% of the nation’s research activity. With a combined annual turnover of approaching £1 billion, including a significant contribution from international sources, the big five represent a substantial economic generator for Wales.

To mark St David’s Day and celebrate the first anniversary of the signing of the Declaration the five Vice-Chancellors have renewed their commitment.

In a joint statement, the five university Vice-Chancellors said: “The St David’s Day Declaration signed in 2009 cemented our belief that by building in collaboration on the intellectual capital and academic excellence of our universities, we can help Wales create an innovative and dynamic economy and a just society for the 21st Century.

“We know that, collectively, our staff and our students can offer real help to business, the public sector and to individuals. Our first priority was to help Wales work its way out of the current recession and, beyond that, to create a vibrant knowledge-led society and economy that puts Wales ahead of the game.

“As we celebrate St David’s Day it’s an ideal opportunity to recognise the Group’s achievements and renew our commitment to making the declaration work for the benefit of the Wales’ knowledge economy.”
In the 12 months since the declaration was signed the five Vice-Chancellors have met on a regular basis to discuss potential areas of collaboration and joint working.

A number of key projects involving all of the five universities have been developed. These include:
• The Wales Institute for Social and Economic Research Data and Methods (WISERD) which is jointly funded by HEFCW and the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The Institute brings together and builds upon the existing expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods and methodologies at the five Welsh universities. In WISERD, Wales is able to boast a centre of social science research excellence to support the Government in tackling economic and social issues in Wales through the collection of data using the most advanced research methodologies and internationally renowned researchers.

• The Wales Institute of Mathematical and Computational Sciences (WIMCS). The Institute brings together individuals and groups in mathematical and computational sciences across the Universities to provide the critical mass of high quality researchers who will achieve international recognition for mathematical research excellence. The Institute will help enhance the standing of mathematics and computation in Wales, to foster links with industry, commerce and business, to generate substantial research funding and to provide a forum for education and public awareness of the mathematical sciences.

• The Low Carbon Research Institute (LCRI). The LCRI has been established to bring the diverse range of energy research across the five universities to bear on the major environmental challenges facing Wales and the wider world. The LCRI aims to support the whole energy sector, UK and globally, in developing low carbon generation, storage, distribution and end use technologies. It will develop capacity and facilities around the existing areas of low carbon and energy expertise in Wales whilst expanding research activities into other energy related areas.

• The Research Institute of Visual Computing (RIVIC) – is a collaborative amalgamation of research programmes between the computer science departments in Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff and Swansea Universities. The first ‘One Wales’ national research centre aims to enrich and strengthen the pool of core academic scientists in visual computing in Wales by bringing in high quality research scientists who have a track record of working at the frontier of science and technology, and operating at an international level.

• A £1.2M project, involving the five St David’s Day Group partners and Glyndwr University, has extended the provision of careers advice to new graduates on accessing the difficult jobs market place. The project runs until the end of 2010 and extends the provision of careers advice to some 3000 graduates. It’s hoped that the project will assist up to 1000 unemployed graduates to access vital training from the partner universities under an Individual Learning Voucher scheme. The scheme is open to all graduates who live in Wales, regardless of where they studied for their degree. The joint Universities project is part of a £2.15M package of four projects announced under the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales’s (HEFCW) Economic Support Initiative.

The five Vice-Chancellors added: “Wales’ development needs to be driven by real innovation.  Such innovation will come from the depth and breadth of knowledge that our universities represent.  

“The St David’s Day declaration has already seen us collaborate in a number of key areas including sustainable development, primary healthcare services and social recovery policies.  We know that, collectively, our staff and our students can offer real help to business, the public sector and to individuals.

“Our priority remains to use our combined strength in research and innovation to help Wales strengthen after the recession and, beyond that, to create a vibrant knowledge-led society and economy that puts Wales ahead of the game.”

The five Vice-Chancellors and their staff have pledged to continue to work together to identify additional areas where collective strength is more beneficial.

Some of the key areas identified by the Group for the next twelve months include: helping develop solutions to business and individual needs which work and can take effect quickly; working with business, the voluntary sector and government to determine what the real priorities for Wales should be; to continue with capital investment programmes, securing construction jobs and supporting Welsh business by local sourcing of suppliers wherever possible; and to further collaborate on projects aimed at working with international business and education partners.