At Manchester Digital, we like to interview our members to find out a bit more about what they do and their work in the Greater Manchester digital and technology sphere. This week, we're speaking with Sara Prowse, CEO of UA92.
Can you tell us more about UA92's mission and vision for supporting the digital and tech talent pipeline in Greater Manchester? What unique value do you bring to the regional ecosystem?
UA92 is a Greater Manchester based higher education institution, founded by the Class of ’92 and Lancaster University. We are committed to making higher education accessible to all, no matter the background, through our founding principles of accessibility, social mobility and inclusivity.
UA92 offers a portfolio of industry-led degrees, higher education courses and apprenticeships, playing a vital role in supporting the digital and tech talent pipeline in Greater Manchester.
How are you working to ensure your degree programs and apprenticeships are closely aligned with the skills needs of local employers? What feedback have you received from industry partners on the job readiness of your graduates?
Through collaboration with over 80 industry partners, we ensure that our curriculum is always aligned to the industry standard, providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in an ever-changing digital landscape.
Our 92 Programme puts Character and Personal Development at the core of the students’ learning, equipping our graduates with the vital skills that employers have told us they want: agility, resilience, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork and communication skills. This gives our graduates the edge when entering the job market
In what ways are you actively engaging with the local business community to provide opportunities for your students, such as internships, work placements, and graduate roles? How can employers get more involved?
We collaborate closely with our partners to offer every student, across Sport, Business, Digital and Media, invaluable opportunities to learn from experts in the field. Throughout their UA92 journey, students will benefit from regular guest lectures delivered by industry leaders and will work on live projects - set by businesses.
Modules and courses can be sponsored by partners, who can play an active role in shaping the curriculum and ensuring it remains aligned with industry needs.
In their final year, all students have the chance to be mentored by a professional in their chosen industry and participate in a week-long insight experience. Students can also access paid internships, volunteer opportunities, and can network with our partners at our biannual career fairs, where employers can showcase available opportunities including graduate roles.
How are you supporting diversity and inclusion within your student body and graduate cohorts? What initiatives do you have in place to attract underrepresented groups into digital and tech careers?
At UA92 our founding principles of inclusivity, accessibility and social mobility drive our commitment to breaking down barriers to higher education. As a result, 21% of our students are from disadvantaged backgrounds, this is nearly twice the Higher Education sector average.
To support this mission, we offer a range of bursaries and support packages, including the Make It For Real package. This provides students essential, although often costly, resources, such as a laptop, internet access, free travel, lunch every day, and a voucher to help furnish their university bedroom. The package is eligible to any student who qualified for free school meals whilst at college or sixth form.
What are the key challenges you face in preparing students for the evolving needs of the regional job market? How can Manchester Digital and its members collaborate with you to address these challenges?
Our two biggest challenges are ensuring that our curriculum stays aligned with rapidly changing industry trends, particularly in sectors like Digital, and the increasing need for more industry partners to provide opportunities to our students, as student numbers grow rapidly.
You can play a role in addressing these challenges by deepening and expanding our partnerships. By collaborating on curriculum development, offering guest lectures, mentoring and work experience, as well as attending careers fairs and promoting graduate roles and internships, you can help UA92 ensure that our students are equipped with the skills and experience that employers in the region require.
Thank you Sara!
Find out more about UA92 here.
