The University is to become a partner in a new University Technical College (UTC) to be established in North Liverpool.
The specialist UTC in Life Sciences will be established by the North Liverpool Academy, which already has close links with the University. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital and the University will join the NLA as partners.
The initiative also has support from 2Bio, the life sciences sector development body for the Liverpool City Region as well as Novartis, Unilever and Bristol Myers Squibb as major local businesses in the sector.
The new life sciences centre will open in 2013 with a capacity of 500-800 students. It will provide technical, academic and vocational education, working closely with the region’s major commercial players to develop the next generation of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs.
A site has yet to be identified for the UTC which will be aimed at any student aged 14-19 in Liverpool wanting to follow a technical vocational apprenticeship or scientific course that will prepare them for a career in the life sciences sector and potentially for HE study.
The University’s contribution will include providing expert advice on careers options, running visits for UTC students to engage in research-led scientific learning and offering a programme of talks and lectures on scientific and careers topics.
Paul Redmond, Head of Careers and Employability, will join the UTC’s Board of Directors. He said: “Building on our existing links with the North Liverpool Academy, we aim to enhance the study of life sciences in Liverpool for 14 to 19-year-olds and work with business and industry to continue developing high-quality links with local, national and international recruiters.
“As a University offering world-class education across the full spectrum of life sciences, it’s important to us to help develop the scientists of tomorrow in our City Region.”
North Liverpool is one of just 13 locations approved by Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, for the establishment of a new UTC.