NCUK Partner Conference 2017

Dates: 20^th November – 24^th November 2017
Venue: Manchester Metropolitan University

The 3^rd annual NCUK Partner Conference took place during the week commencing 20^th November 2017 with over 50+ delegates travelling from NCUK Study Centres as far away as Peru, China, Thailand, Nigeria and many more!

The conference theme for 2017 was Get in, Get on:

• Get in: How NCUK, our Partners and universities can attract more prospective students and support their progression to an NCUK university.
• Get on: Once registered with NCUK, progressed to an NCUK university and/or graduated, how we can help them get on with their future studies and/or career.

This central theme shaped the content of the conference in which delegates discussed various topics in workshops led by NCUK staff, NCUK university staff and NCUK Delivery Partner staff. Some of the topics for the workshops included:

• Student Counselling: Perspectives from NCUK universities
• Showcase: NCUK Marketing Activity
• Make your Brand Work for You: Experiences of an NCUK Delivery Partner (DIFC) in re-branding their College
• Overview of NCUK qualifications and comparisons to others
• Employability: Work opportunities, visa’s, and future career opportunities in the UK and home

On the afternoon of Wednesday 22^nd November, delegates attended the prestigious NCUK Prize Awards 2017 ceremony where the winners were announced in front of a large audience consisting of NCUK University representatives, NCUK Study Centres, NCUK Board of Trustees, as well as NCUK Student Prize Award winners. The event also featured a Student Prize Award ceremony to showcase the achievement of top performing students. Each year, NCUK awards prizes to students with the best academic results from the NCUK global network. The annual prize fund exceeds £50,000 and individual academic merit prizes range from £50 to £1,000.

Photo: NCUK Partner Conference delegates, Student Prize Award Winners, NCUK University Partner representatives,NCUK Board of Trustee members, NCUK Ambassadors and Alumni, and NCUK Staff

Throughout the course of the week, delegates were treated to engaging visits and tours of NCUK University Partners:

• Manchester Metropolitan University
• University of Salford
• University of Manchester
• Liverpool John Moores University
• University of Bradford

Delegates also had the opportunity to visit and be shown around the University of Kent prior to the conference commencing.

As a new NCUK Study Centre, it was very useful in terms of the networking opportunities that it afforded. I got plenty of good advice (and offers of more in the future if need be) from centres like ourselves who are staring NCUK courses this year, or who are only a year or two into the process.

Kelley Proctor, representing North West Regional College

The conference was a great success with 95% of delegates stating that they would be extremely likely or very likely to attend the NCUK Partner Conference again. NCUK would like to thank Manchester Metropolitan University for hosting the conference, and also thank our other University Partners for all of their help and hospitality with the rest of the Conference.