'Prime opportunity' to support Royal Navy as University of Portsmouth joins vital alliance after funding snub
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The institution was chosen from a pool of nearly 100 applicants
Vital research to support the Royal Navy’s future will be done in Portsmouth - with the city’s university recovering from a major funding snub.
The University of Portsmouth was chosen to be a part of the new Defence Universities Alliance (DUA). Hand-picked from a pool of nearly 100 applicants, the institution will be at the heart of research and development for the armed forces.
Vice chancellor, professor Graham Galbraith, believes the DUA will help modernise the military. He told The News: “This is a prime opportunity to engage not only with enhancing the skills and career opportunities of those pursuing a career in the defence sector, but also the chance to ensure that the University’s excellent Research and Development activities are better connected with the nation’s defence and security ecosystem. This provides us with the opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation in the defence of the UK in a world that is becoming more and more unstable.”
He added: “With the increased funding coming to the city to support the redevelopment of the naval base and supporting ecosystem, it is certainly my hope that the University will be able to directly support the future of the Royal Navy and the armed forces.”
“Many strategic benefits”
The DUA aims to create a thriving network of defence research expertise and boost the highly-skilled workforce needed for the sector. Bringing together the MoD, Armed Forces, the Office of the Chief Scientific Advisor for National Security, and the higher education sector, the goal is to develop people to work in the industry, and research new technologies that can be used at sea, on land, and in the air.
The programme is part of the government’s £182m defence skills package. Part of this involved £80m set aside for developing new facilities and university placements. The University of Portsmouth applied for this and hosted minister for defence readiness and industry, Luke Pollard, during the announcement earlier this year. Despite this, they were snubbed and not told their bid was unsuccessful.
Prof Galbraith shrugged off the decision and believes the DUA will keep the university healthy. He said: “Whilst we were disappointed not to receive funding, being unsuccessful in a one off project funding competition run by the OfS is very different to membership of the DUA which provides many strategic benefits. The funding competition would have supported a specific programme over five-years; the alliance offers a longer term opportunity to shape collaboration between higher education and defence across the UK.
“We respect the outcome of the OfS competitive bidding process but at the same time are confident in the strength and potential of the University's contribution to defence skills and innovation over many years to come.”
According to the university’s outcomes survey, an average of 83 per cent of graduates across 30 linked course areas have become employed in the defence sector or associated industry. Prof Galbraith said: “By benefitting from the DUA’s enhanced focus on defence-related skills and careers, I am confident that these numbers will increase and that those graduates who want to pursue a career in these sectors will have increased opportunities and enhanced skills to do so.”
Minister for defence readiness and industry, Luke Pollard, said: “As we prepare for warfighting readiness, working with universities, students and innovators boosts skills and helps keep our country safe. The Defence Universities Alliance will create meaningful connections between students, academia and defence, boosting research, skills and defence expertise across the UK to strengthen industry. Universities play a key role in innovating and supporting defence, and the DUA helps marshal those efforts.”
Professor Tim Dafforn, Chief Scientific Advisor at the Ministry of Defence, thinks the DUA will help address more of the complex challenges which faces defence. “It represents a genuinely transformative step forward in how Defence partners with the UK’s world-leading academic sector,” he added.
“I am incredibly excited about the opportunities this creates. The DUA will fundamentally change the way Defence, universities and industry work together - strengthening our national security, creating strategic advantage and supporting growth to deliver better outcomes for the UK.”
Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin, Labour, said: “This is fantastic news for our city. Portsmouth has a proud defence heritage, world-class expertise and a university that is already leading the way in research, innovation and skills. This alliance will help even more local people access exciting careers in areas like cyber security, AI, advanced engineering and defence technology, while strengthening our national security.”
Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan, Labour, said its great to see the university acknowledged as an engine for growth. He added: “I look forward to collaborating with them to take advantage of this crucial opportunity to strengthen defence research, develop future skills, and support careers across the UK's defence and national security sectors.”