Tay Cities Deal. The four local authorities across the Tay Cities Region, Angus, Dundee City, Fife and Perth & Kinross have been successful in their bid to win a “Cities Deal”, resulting in combined Scottish Government, UK government and private investment of £700M: “We will create a region where fair business growth, social inclusion and skills development is at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is to become a cohesive region of knowledge with a culture of creativity within Scotland and the UK. By focussing on the skill, knowledge and expertise of our people, we can boost innovation, economic growth and productivity within our region.” The College submitted four Stage 1 project bids as lead partner and is a partner in a further 20 bids. The College has submitted bids which are strategically important for our stakeholders, the Region and which have the potential to increase regional employment, weekly wages and GVA growth above the Scottish average. We have also targeted partners who we have a strategic alignment to, in order to collaborate in their bids. This strategy has ensured that the College is involved in projects across several key industry sectors, as well as within bids focussing on the cross cutting themes of Inclusive Growth, Innovation and Internationalisation.
Tay Cities Deal. The Tay Cities Deal is still in the final decision making stages and we anticipate an outcome during Spring 2018. We are the lead organisation in two bids for capital and revenue funding through the investment process (the CyberQuarter and the Scottish Games Centre), and partners in two further bids (Brighter Lives by Design and the Centre for Food & Drink Knowledge and Innovation). . The cyberQuarter will be a cluster of academic-commercial activity - a co-location space for academia and industry, expertise in applied research and access to a range of public sector support located within the Tay Cities region to exploit the existing expertise of Abertay University in ethical hacking and the digital industries ecosystem of Dundee city. Internationally competitive and impactful research Research strategy During 2017-18 we are updating our research strategy to take account of feedback from an external review and to ensure that it remains appropriate and relevant as we move towards the next REF. This also includes a new Head of Research role with clear accountability for the delivery of the research strategy. Over the period of the outcome agreement, we will continue to implement our long-term strategy to embed a research-led culture right across Abertay, underpinning everything we do in research, knowledge-exchange and especially teaching. Our strategic plan confirms our ongoing commitment to align our research innovation and knowledge exchange strategy and activity with national and local priorities. Our Graduate School plays a key role at Abertay. The University is committed to the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. All Abertay postgraduate students and researchers are given membership of the Graduate School and have access to our dedicated study and social spaces – a forum in which they can meet, work and learn with other researchers and postgraduates from across the University. The Graduate School offers an integrated training and professional development programme to enhance research excellence, impact and individual employability. It also supports the Abertay Research Community in the development of research and professional careers. This includes a calendar of events and training for researchers, access to researcher development material and guidance via the Graduate School’s Blackboard, access to the Vitae Research Development Framework and to EPIGEUM Research Skills Master programme. Staff and Research Stud...
