Case study 2 – Midlands Hub ‘Managing Transition’ workshop – developing a Midlands Hub Training Exchange

Case study 2 - Midlands Hub ‘Managing Transition' workshop - developing a Midlands Hub Training Exchange

It was collectively agreed that in times of austerity the need to develop cost-effective models of sustainable, shared training are increasingly desirable, as well as helping to break down barriers of perceived competition between institutions.  With this in mind, colleagues from eight different Midlands institutions came together in October 2010 to discuss operationalising a model of reciprocal training for researchers and staff supporting researchers in the Midlands.  Under the leadership of the Hub Manager and Hub Co-ordinator, a SWOT analysis was carried out to primarily determine institutional training strengths and weaknesses and opportunities for reciprocal activity. 

The model developed aims to be fair and equitable and wholely collaborative, regardless of HEI size and status, which potentially signifies a new collaborative era post-Roberts. 

The next steps agreed were to submit a proposal to senior management at each participating institution of how such a model could work, and to identify areas of training exchange at each institution by Nov 2010 with an aim to start running reciprocal sessions from Jan to July 2011.