University professor urges entrepreneurs to target European funding
ADVICE about how enterprising universities can gain European funding will be made by a professor from the University of Chichester as part of a keynote speech.
The Higher Education Entrepreneurship Group (HEEG) conference, taking place today, will conclude with a presentation from management and economic development expert Professor Dave Cooper.
The event is this year held at Southampton Solent University for enterprise educators to hear for the first time how they can design projects which will address priorities of the £61.2million European Structural and Investment Fund.
This will include supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and skills to encourage regional economic growth.
Professor Cooper, of the University of Chichester’s Business School, will give insights to around 80 delegates from the 18 member universities.
The keynote speech will feature advice on accessing European funding through Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) – voluntary organisations of leading figures from local governments and large institutions which lead economic growth across the UK.
His current work within the Business School has included the development of a regional top-down strategy in support of a submission from the West Sussex Coast to Capital LEP aimed at the government for their Strategy for Local Growth.
As part of the HEEG conference, the University of Chichester will also be showcasing its good practice in interdepartmental collaboration for enterprise education.
Dr Lyn Batchelor, a Senior Lecturer in Enterprise, will present the University’s enterprise-education strategy and how it has led to the collaboration between the Sport Management department and Business School.
The strategy ensures that every enrolled sports student has an enterprise module in their first semester, and was first presented by Dr Batchlor at a combined Enterprise Educators UK (EEUK) and HEEG event at London South Bank University earlier this year.
Other priorities areas on the HEEG agenda include social entrepreneurship in the region and Europe, the Small Business Growth Charter Voucher scheme, and helping business growth through theatrical methods.