The Industrial Advisory Panel (IAB) comprises external representatives from key organisations who can provide a strategic view on the School’s activities in respect of:
- Graduate employability
- Quality of our undergraduate/postgraduate courses
- Relevance of our research and its impact on the economy
- Plans and opportunities for strategic growth of the School
- Providing skills and training for a COVID-19 world
The IAB provides light-touch advice, seeks ways to help and improve the performance and reputation of the School, and helps us to review the requirements of both industry/government and graduates to inform the School’s teaching and research agenda.
The key to a successful IAB is to have key representatives from important global, national and regional companies and government agencies who can provide advice as a critical friend.
The Terms of Reference for the IAB can be summarised as follows:
- To provide a periodic channel of communication between the School and relevant sections of industry and government
- To ensure that that School can receive appropriate expert advice and observations on the relevance of its teaching and research.
- To advise on other School activities as the Board sees fit.
The main methods of interacting with the School are:
- Recruitment opportunities for either work experience or for graduate positions - (e.g. UEA alumni) from the company or agency are invited to participate in the various School activities.
- IAB members and their colleagues can deliver Guest lectures.
- Industrial Programme supported by visits to the IAB companies.
- Provide perspectives on current and future industry needs for our Computing Science/Actuarial Sciences undergraduate, graduate and PhD programmes
- Act as a critical friend for any curricula developments and updates
- Provide summary advice on new courses and changes in mode of delivery.
- Act as ambassadors for the School, helping to raise the Schools profile and reputation within your organisation.
- Advise on employability perspectives for our undergraduate and graduate programmes
Benefits to the School include:
- The quality of the School's degree programmes is maintained.
- The School is advised on which research activities might be undertaken to meet current industrial and wider government needs.
- The employability of the School's students is enhanced.
- The IAB can advise the School on ad hoc matters identified either by the academic staff or by the IAB members.
Benefits to board members include:
- A raised awareness of the IAB partner's activities amongst staff and the students in the School.
- To ensure that our graduates have the essential skills that are required by them as potential future employers.
- To explore opportunities to use staff in the School as a suitable academic partner to help secure EPSRC / Innovate UK or other government agency or commercial funding for research and innovation projects.
- Networking opportunities with other companies in the School eco-system.
- Access to a large student population to undertake a wide range of projects and for recruitment.
- Explore access to the extensive equipment and facilities and skills that are available in the School and wider UEA/Norwich Research Park.