Suffolk Institute of Technology wins prestigious CMI project - 30 March 2005
The Suffolk Institute of Technology, an innovative new technology institute in the county, has won a prestigious research and consultancy project from the Cambridge-MIT Institute
The Suffolk Institute of Technology (SIT) was launched in November 2002, as part of Suffolk College, and has enjoyed considerable initial success in supporting the competitiveness of smaller businesses in the region through targeted training and the transfer of knowledge and know-how from academic institutions.
The work of the new project will enable CMI to understand how best to encourage efficient and effective knowledge transfer between small and medium sized businesses and academic institutions. In awarding this contract, CMI has demonstrated its recognition of the capacity and expertise within the SIT to support such an undertaking. The work will build on previous CMI research and will focus on Suffolk and the wider eastern region.
Commenting on the announcement Dr Peter Funnell, Assistant Principal (Learning Development) at Suffolk College and executive director of the SIT said: “The award of this project is a major achievement and represents an unparalleled opportunity for members of the SIT team to work with colleagues from the MIT and Cambridge University and to apply that work in Suffolk.”
Dr Funnell added: “The SIT research team is currently developing a number of case studies of small businesses operating in the High Tech sector in Suffolk. These will establish in greater depth what the knowledge needs of businesses in the sector are and how entrepreneurs and managers might best be served by the education community in meeting these needs.”
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Clare Avery, Associate Dean (SIT) said: “SIT will be delivering preliminary findings at seminars in Massachusetts at the end of April and will be contributing to a key international dissemination event in Ipswich scheduled for September to be attended by academic and business leaders from Massachusetts, and colleagues from Cambridge university, Suffolk and the wider eastern region.”
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
For further information please contact:
Tracey Bailey, Suffolk College Promotions & Information Centre Manager
Tel: 01473 296606
Email: traceybailey@suffolk.ac.uk
Or
Dr Peter Funnell, Suffolk College Assistant Principal (Learning Development)
Tel: 01473 296535
Email: peterfunnell@Suffolk.ac.uk
The Suffolk Institute of Technology (SIT) is one of 19 New Technology Institutes in the UK. Aimed at developing higher level skills in the workplace in technology-related subjects to improve the competitiveness of smaller firms in the region, the SIT was launched in November 2002 having won Government funding. The SIT is part of Suffolk College and operates in partnership with the University of East Anglia. Equipped with the latest teaching and learning technology, the SIT occupies newly refurbished premises at 1 Upper High Street Ipswich, together with sites on the main Suffolk College campus and at Adastral Park, Martlesham. See www.sit.ac.uk and www.suffolk.ac.uk
The Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI) is a pioneering partnership between two world-class institutions: the University of Cambridge in the UK and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US. Established in July 2000, it receives funding from the UK government and industry partners to carry out education and research to enhance the competitiveness, productivity and entrepreneurship of the UK economy. For more information about CMI, please contact Tamara Roukaerts on 01223 448793, email t.roukaerts@cmi.cam.ac.uk or visit our website: www.cambridge-mit.org .
Issued by Promotions.
30 March 2005