The Impact of Higher Education Institutions on Regional Economies initiative is a project co-ordinated by Strathclyde and, running from 2007-2010, aims to promote better understanding of the key economic and social impacts generated by UK higher education institutions on their host regions and on other regions in the UK.
The initiative is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), in partnership with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) in Northern Ireland, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW).
Strathclyde also leads the largest research project within the project as a whole, namely, "The overall impact of higher education institutions on regional economies". Professor Peter McGregor is principal investigator, with co-investigators Professor Kim Swales, Professor Robert Wright and Ursula Kelly of Strathclyde, Professor Richard Harris of Glasgow University, Dr Allessandra Faggian of University of Southampton. Emeritus professor Iain McNicoll, Strathclyde, is an advisor to the project, as are a number of academics in Australia, New Zealand and Wales. Dr Katerina Lisenkova is research fellow on the project and Kristinn Hermannsson is a linked PhD student. With some supplementary funding secured from ESRC and HE funding councils, two further short-term research appointments linked to the project are about to be made.
Here Peter McGregor outlines the project and the specific research Strathclyde is involved in.