University News Last updated 30 June 2010
Birmingham City University is helping to develop regeneration excellence in the West Midlands through an innovative partnership with RegenWM, the regeneration skills arm of Advantage West Midlands.
The collaboration will see the University providing opportunities for graduates on the fast-track ‘Future Leaders in Housing’ programme, which has been set up in partnership with four housing associations in the region, to achieve a professional recognised postgraduate housing qualification.
The graduates will study modules on a blended learning basis, supported by a range of directed reading, e-learning and other work-based activities.
Veronica Coatham, Head of Division of Housing and Community Studies at Birmingham City University, said: “This is a really exciting example of how partnerships can work so everyone gains. The Homes and Communities Agency provided the original inspiration and impetuous. The housing associations employ the graduates and provide a breadth of work experience opportunities. RegenWM co-ordinates the training to run alongside the rest of the programme and Birmingham City University provides the opportunity to work towards the professional qualification.”
Adrian Passmore, Chief Executive at RegenWM, said: “Ensuring that the housing sector has leaders in place for the future is too important to be left to chance. We believe the programme and the forward thinking of the partners involved will provide the participants with the necessary building blocks they need to be these future leaders.”
Veronica Coatham added: “This unique collaboration strengthens the Birmingham City University’s reputation as the region’s number one provider of postgraduate professional housing education in the West Midlands. We are committed to providing excellent quality courses, tailored to the needs of professionals in the sector.”
The first four students started this training programme in November 2009 and the intention is that a second cohort will be recruited in September 2010, working with a different group of housing associations in the region. There are also plans to expand the initiative into other regions across the country