Our partnerships are the perfect way to provide life-changing opportunities for our students, while supporting wider society. Through our close connections with leading organisations, the work of the University is having a real social impact and at the same time, fulfilling our mission to inspire minds and change futures.
From boosting education, health and economic prospects to providing support for young people through a pioneering sports and arts-based programme, our collaborations continue to inspire, educate and enable those in our communities and beyond.
As we celebrate the past 90 years of excellence at our Ormskirk campus we’re revisiting some of our fantastic partnerships. Find out more about our award-winning sport and arts-based education programme, Tackling the Blues, in partnership with Everton in the Community.
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Tackling the Blues scores on mental health
A mental health sports and art-based programme for young people has scooped multiple awards and been praised by the Government’s first Youth Mental Health Ambassador, Dr Alex George.
Since 2015, Tackling the Blues has helped more than 5,000 children, teens and university students experiencing mental illness or at risk of developing it. Research suggests it’s helping them become more confident, less anxious and more in tune with their mental health.
A partnership between Edge Hill’s Faculty of Education and Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Everton in the Community and Tate Liverpool, the programme has won multiple awards including from Times Higher Education, Educate North and North West Coast Research and Innovation Award.
Up-skilling in the heart of Wigan
Edge Hill is helping boost career opportunities for Wigan’s young people by ensuring they have skills to match demand.
Our work as part of The Education Skills Partnership – including Wigan & Leigh College, Wigan Council and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) – means people can study for a teaching degree or develop higher technical skills in the community.
The University Centre Wigan & Leigh College now offers a part-time BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS taught by our academics. And The Centre for Advanced Technical Studies runs courses including T Levels in health and civil engineering with coveted industry placements.
Helping visionary local businesses take off
A near 50% increase in profits is what local businesses could achieve with support from Edge Hill’s SME Productivity & Innovation Centre (PIC).
Hundreds of SMEs, from mechanical services to education and training companies, have accessed our fully-funded Innovation Sprint Programme, which helps them develop strategies to embrace opportunities and address scale-up challenges. It may include helping them improve their processes or marketing messaging.
The PIC – which has most recently won an Educate North award and hosts its own awards to recognise Lancashire businesses – is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, led by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Leading Lancashire on climate change goals
Edge Hill hosted the first-ever Lancashire Community Climate Action Forum in May 2023, bringing together 150 representatives from over 90 community groups and organisations to help the county advance its efforts and meet its net zero emissions goals.
Attendees from diverse areas, including energy, nature, food and transport, participated in activity sessions, sharing good practice and learning from specialists.
It’s hoped the forum will become an annual event. And there are plans to develop a new Lancashire network of community-based climate action organisations, building on the success of SustainNET – the University’s internal network of passionate individuals.
A performance history explored through students’ eyes
Edge Hill has teamed up with Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse theatres in the city centre to offer its students real-world experiences in various subjects, from history to English and creative arts.
As part of the partnership, first-year history students of the ‘Time Detectives’ module have developed digital resources designed to interest modern Playhouse-goers. They explore bygone eras of the theatre – opened initially as a music hall in 1866 – and Williamson Square, where it’s based.
Students have researched topics including the suffragists movement and the diversity of Liverpool over the last 200 years.
Bootcamp to plug the digital skills gap
Our Computer Science department is helping fast-track learners into data and cloud computing careers through a 16-week bootcamp programme.
As part of a national consortium, we’re working with the Institute of Coding to train those with little or no knowledge of programming, AI or machine learning, helping close the UK’s digital skills gap.
Courses are always fully booked and It’s free of charge for those unemployed, self-employed or in existing jobs looking to upskill. It’s also open SMEs, with two-thirds of the cost covered.
The Department for Education funds the programme, part of the Government’s Skills for Life Campaign.
Community learning to boost teacher numbers
As one of the largest teacher training providers in the country, Edge Hill is in demand for educational partnerships.
One of our long-standing relationships is with Bury’s Holy Cross College, and we’re now helping boost its portfolio to benefit even more community learners and tackle a UK teacher shortage.
From July 2023, students have been able to apply to study a new Masters programme at the college – the MA Education Special Education Needs (SEN) pathway – alongside existing undergraduate degrees and PGCEs. All courses are delivered and validated by Edge Hill.
World-class imaging training for better patient care
A world-class imaging workforce carrying out X-rays, MRIs and ultrasounds that improve early diagnosis and reduce health inequalities is the aim of the new North West Imaging Academy (NWIA) hosted at Edge Hill.
The multi-million-pound NHS project, launched in November 2022, supports the sonographers, radiographers, imaging support workers and other health professionals of tomorrow, letting students practice procedures and hone their skills away from the pressures of busy hospitals. Videolinks also allow experienced tutors to teach from any site.
Coordinated through our Medical School’s Training Hub, NWIA is a collaboration between The North West School of Radiology, NHS trusts, universities and other partners.
Celebrating 30 years of education exchange with China
Delegates from China’s leading teacher training university visited our campus in July 2023 to celebrate 30 years of partnership working.
Edge Hill, through its Faculty of Education, is one of several foreign universities partnered with Chongqing Normal University in a Confucius Institute.
It promotes cultural exchange and language learning. This includes growing the number of Mandarin teachers across the North West of England and encouraging more schools to offer language classes.