HRUC launches groundbreaking Innovation Partnership with MIT in landmark move for the FE Sector

In a pioneering development for the Further Education (FE) sector, Harrow, Richmond, and Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC) are to join the Industrial Liaison Program (ILP) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 

 

The membership between MIT ILP and HRUC (which includes its West London Institute of Technology, offering higher-level technical skills development specialising in engineering, computing, and construction), provides a range of important benefits including access to MIT’s researchers, widely recognised to be among the best in the world. 

 

This development will provide the ambitious HRUC college group (London’s newest college group which supports 16,000+ learners) with access to MIT's cutting-edge technologies and management expertise, enabling staff to enrich the curriculum. HRUC will also be able to drive educational technologies and innovation through access to MIT ILP’s webinars and its network of start-ups created by its students, alumni, and faculty members. 

 

Other benefits include tailored sessions with research scientists and faculty members to identify potential specific co-development efforts, an annual private seminar for senior leaders, information about MIT’s emerging technologies, and access to its library and reports. 

 

There will also be real-time monitoring of emerging technologies, access to research and management resources, and information sharing to enrich the student experience. 

 

HRUC has also announced the launch of a new national innovation competition for FE students across the UK. This new national competition will provide students with an opportunity to showcase their vision and thinking for solutions to address the future industry solutions and innovations. HRUC will sponsor the group of winning students to receive a life-changing opportunity to visit and collaborate with students and staff at MIT. 

 

The national competition will give students an unprecedented opportunity to learn from industry experts, gain new academic experiences, work across borders, and develop new international networks. It will also shine a spotlight on the best thinking and innovations ideas from across our country putting further education in the place it deserves as the centre of innovation and technology. 

 

Speaking at the launch event at Richmond upon Thames College, Keith Smith, HRUC Chief Executive, said, “This is a significant step for HRUC and underscores the potential for cross-sector collaboration between educational institutions and industry leaders. It sets a precedent for future endeavours within and beyond the FE sector. This agreement also highlights the shared commitment of MIT’s ILP and HRUC to explore innovative solutions to enrich the experience of our extraordinary students and staff.” 

 

Dr Gayathri Srinivasan, Executive Director MIT Corporate Relations, said, “I am delighted to welcome HRUC as one of over 200 esteemed global members of the MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP). HRUC’s involvement with MIT through membership in the MIT Industrial Liaison Program and MIT Startup Exchange builds on both institutions' deep commitment to education, impact and the student experience, and the long and varied tradition of transatlantic collaboration that MIT has enjoyed for many years.” 

 

Harrow, Richmond, and Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC) are London's newest further education college group offering courses, training and apprenticeships. Each of the vibrant colleges has its own distinguished history and is serving local communities and employers across west and south London with distinction. The HRUC portfolio also includes the West London Institute of Technology, providing higher technical STEM qualifications, and HRUC Apprenticeships and Skills – which provides a range of apprenticeships and support for businesses to develop their workforce.