Agreements signed with employers to support student skills

Leeds Trinity University has signed the first Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with three organisations as part of a new project to enrich student education and opportunities.

Leeds-based digital services company Hippo, Liberty Shared Services (part of Liberty Global, which has offices in Bradford and London), and UST – a Digital Transformation Solutions Company which provides services on a global scale – have signed the MOUs as part of the University’s employer partnership agreements.

The opportunities that will be provided to Leeds Trinity students through the enhanced partnerships include a mix of work placements, certification pathways and mentoring. In return, employer partner organisations will benefit from access to a pool of skilled and well-prepared graduates, fostering innovation and growth within their companies.

With a particular focus on businesses in the tech and law industries initially, the University’s Employer Partnership project is intended to strengthen opportunities for Leeds Trinity students to work with employers in Leeds as it establishes itself as a key education provider and partner for the sectors.

Leeds Trinity University is a career-led institution that embeds professional work placements within the majority of its undergraduate degrees. The University has a strong focus on supporting students to develop the right skills and attributes during their time studying and for future jobs.

Professor Catherine O’Connor, pro vice-chancellor (Education and Experience) at Leeds Trinity University, said: “We have long-standing and embedded ways of working with employers with regards to placements. These new partnership agreements give us the opportunity to reinforce our approach to working with businesses to support our students in developing their skills, understanding and pathways to their future careers. We’re delighted at the commitment from employers to being involved with the curriculum to enrich student education and opportunities.

“Along with the opening of our second campus in the heart of Leeds City Centre, this work cements our commitment to supporting growth and the demand for skills across the city and region.”

Leeds Trinity University’s City Campus, opening in the 2024/25 academic year, will be home to programmes in the University’s Business School, School of Computer Science and Law School, in addition to its School of Construction and the Built Environment, and School of Criminology, Investigation and Policing.

Digital Futures and the Leeds City Region underpin Leeds Trinity University’s Strategic Plan 2021-26.

Commenting on the MOU signing, Liz Whitefield, founder and executive director of Hippo, said: “Being part of the great digital and tech community in Leeds is something Hippo is proud of, but we have always known the part we must (and love to) play in helping to close the digital skills gap and engaging with educational institutions like Leeds Trinity is vital to that. We have had a longstanding relationship with Leeds Trinity and this MOU takes that to another level, showing the joint commitment between education and industry. The active role our digital professionals play in supporting the initiatives brings real world delivery experience closer to the students.”

Chloe Wood, chief of staff at Liberty Financial Services, said: “I am excited about this partnership with Leeds Trinity University, which acknowledges our joint commitment to nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and bridging the gap between academia and industry.

“The partnership provides students with invaluable industry experience, enhancing their career readiness whilst shaping the future of our industry. This partnership allows us to develop graduate courses that are aligned with real-world demands and emerging trends, ensuring that the next generation of graduates is well-equipped to lead and innovate.”

Praveen Prabhakaran, UK managing director and global chief delivery officer at UST said: “Our focus has been around transforming lives by designing engagements that can have a meaningful impact for the communities. Our Leeds Digital Development centre was designed to promote digital talent from the local community, and we are delighted to be an official employer partner of Leeds Trinity University and to be able to provide opportunity to support their students throughout their studies and future careers. Our partnership will revolve around how we can deliver skills and solutions in the Generative AI, Cyber Security, Data Science and Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) space, providing learning for students and tangible benefits for the University”.

Charlotte Rainey, employer partnerships manager at Leeds Trinity University, said: “This mutually beneficial partnership aims to collaboratively develop future talent, providing Leeds Trinity students with various opportunities to enhance their skills and career prospects. By working together, both the University and the employers can ensure the continuous development of industry-relevant skills and knowledge, creating a strong pipeline of future talent.”

Image: Back row left to right: Madhu Nair (UST), Emily Timson (LTU), Patrick Marren (UST), Charlotte Rainey (LTU), Helen Perkins (LTU), Sathiya Gopal (UST). Front row left to right: Praveen Prabhakaran (Chief Delivery Officer at UST and Managing Director at UST UK) and Catherine O’Connor (LTU)