Throughout 2024, we have continued our journey to becoming a truly global education provider and I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made in expanding our networks into exciting emerging markets around the world. The steps we’ve taken over the past 12 months have ensured we’re delivering a lasting positive impact, be it economic, social, cultural or environmental, at home and overseas as we continue our mission of creating better futures.
Global
In April, we built on our longstanding commitment to develop strategic collaborations in India by officially opening our Global Hub in the heart of New Delhi. This move will play a significant role in streamlining communications and collaboration between the university and organisations in Indian education, business and government. We followed this up with the launch of our campus in Astana, Kazakhstan in October. Through these new ventures, we are looking to offer top-quality higher education to thousands of students in the region, addressing local skills gaps, supporting development and delivering lasting benefits.
The UK is not a big enough market to sustain universities financially and Brexit means we have to look further to bring the diversity and international outlook our students and communities need for social and economic prosperity. Global is not a nice to have, it is part of our strategy and is a core component of we are. We have many more opportunities under development and look forward to sharing these as soon as we can.
Finally, we bid a fond farewell to Margaret Casely-Hayford CBE whose tenure as Chancellor of the university group ended this year. Stepping into her shoes is President and CEO of Elsewedy Electric Eng Ahmed El Sewedy, whose visionary leadership and passion for education will play a significant role in spreading our message of creating better futures far and wide. This exciting appointment also reflects our Group’s global nature and our unwavering commitment to widening access to quality higher education worldwide.
Health
We continued our mission of developing the health and care workforce of tomorrow through new collaborations, facilities and research in 2024. I’ve always been incredibly proud of our track record of working with NHS Trusts in areas with higher education gaps to address staff shortages, and the launch of our Nursing Associate Foundation Degree in January represents another example of this. A collaboration between Wiltshire College and University Centre and Salisbury Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, it will allow us to continue delivering pioneering health and care education in the region.
We also became the UK’s first higher education institution co-located in an NHS Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) as we look to help the NHS tackle health inequalities in our city centre. Alongside University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust, we are delivering teaching, learning, and clinical placements, as well as research, enterprise and innovation, at a new health centre aimed at benefitting the health of our local community. This exciting collaboration will not only provide our students with access to hands-on NHS learning experiences and placement opportunities in the city centre but will also directly support the growth and workforce retention of UHCW.
Sustainability
Spearheaded by our transdisciplinary practical research and cutting-edge innovation, in 2024 we have remained committed to delivering solutions for a cleaner future. The launch of the Greenpower Park in March, for example, showcased our continued drive to be at the forefront of the green industrial revolution. Our involvement is an incredibly exciting milestone for the Group, setting the stage for unparalleled investment in green electrified technology and skilled job creation in the West Midlands and beyond.
I was also delighted by the awarding of almost £13m from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme which will help us install more than 1,300 new solar panels and connect nine of our campus buildings to the city’s district energy network. We hope that through this fantastic initiative we will be able to reduce our carbon emissions by more than 1,300 tonnes per year.
Finally, we were proud to join the £11m initiative Project PULSE as we look to revolutionise power electronic manufacturing in the UK. Harnessing the university’s award-winning Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) facility, our researchers will provide leadership in enhancing manufacturing efficiency and sustainability while incorporating cutting-edge solutions like digital product passports for recycling and traceability to maximise on the project’s ambitions.
Conclusion
2024 has been a hugely successful year for Coventry University Group and I am incredibly proud of the amazing work that has taken place across all levels of the organisation. Together, we will continue striving to deliver a positive lasting impact for our communities around the world as we work towards our mission of creating better futures for all.
Signed
Professor John Latham CBE
Vice-Chancellor, Coventry University
