Northumbria University’s London Campus and its partner QA Higher Education, a
world-leading provider of digital and tech skills, have been named Public/Private Partnership
of 2021 at this year’s PIEoneer Awards ceremony.
The PIEoneer
Awards are the only global awards that celebrate innovation and
achievement across the whole of the international education industry. This win recognises
the differentiated experience of QA’s international students at Northumbria
University’s London Campus resulting in consistently high grades for learners
and great levels of student satisfaction.
The Northumbria University London Campus is home to 2,500
students from 90 countries studying a wide range of programmes including
digital business, emerging technology, computing, cyber and international
project management.
Partnering since 2014, Northumbria University and QA are committed
to giving students the very best experience at every stage of their student
journey from recruitment through to onboarding, on-programme and beyond
graduation. In 2019/20 over 80% of the international students studying here gained
commendation or distinction grades, module satisfaction was consistently in the
upper quartile and over 70% of the academic and support team were nominated by its
students for the Student Union’s Student Led Teaching Awards.
Dr Guy Brown, Director of Northumbria University London
Campus, said: “The commitment of both Northumbria University and QA Higher Education
to delivering a distinctive student journey and range of innovative,
research-rich and flexible undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, which
draw on the strengths of both partners, is what has enabled Northumbria London
Campus to gain this prestigious award. Our close working relationship, based on
our shared values, has enabled the partnership to enter numerous new areas
including Northumbria Pathway College and our National Degree Apprenticeship
offer. We look forward to continued collaboration and success.”
The excellent international student performance and
satisfaction has been achieved through joint investment in all areas of the
student journey. This includes a substantial investment in campus refurbishment
increasing designated areas for social learning, private study, specialist
technical facilities and tutorial space.
Embedded careers and internship support enable students to
complete a London-based internship during their study while a ‘learning to
learn’, culturalisation and academic/language skill programme helps build
international students’ confidence and subsequent academic success. One-to-one
and small group teaching, weekly tutorial and programme leader drop-ins, and
smart timetabling all enable learners to plan their London commute cost
effectively. These continued
enhancements are embedded with agility ensuring the practice is meeting the
current needs of the diverse learner population.
“The Public/Private Partnership award recognises the
continued hard work and commitment to an outstanding learner experience from
both QA and Northumbria University,” said Nick Miller, Chief Marketing and
International Officer, QA Higher Education. “Through our You Said, We Did
model, we take an agile approach to gathering feedback and evolving our
services in line with student requirements, keeping learners satisfied and
successful. We are delighted that our student-centric approach to Higher
Education has been recognised with a prestigious PIEoneer award.”
The approach has seen the relationship grow from a single
campus with 144 students in 2014, to a multi-facetted partnership with a
UK-wide portfolio including Pathway, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Executive
Education and Degree Apprenticeship.
