The University of Roehampton has joined a new partnership of universities and colleges across South London that aims to strengthen skills, widen opportunity and support the region’s long term growth. The South London Colleges and Universities Partnership brings together ten institutions committed to improving pathways into education and employment and helping local employers access the talent and expertise they need.
The partnership is built around a shared ambition to support high potential sectors across the region. These include health and life sciences, digital and creative industries, the visitor economy and green technologies. By coordinating skills provision, research expertise and employer engagement, the partners aim to create clearer and more connected routes for residents to move into high quality jobs and for businesses to benefit from the knowledge and innovation within the area’s education sector.
For Roehampton, joining the partnership reflects the university’s strong track record in supporting its diverse communities and working closely with local organisations. The university already collaborates with employers, charities, schools and councils across South London, helping students gain valuable experience while contributing to community priorities. This new collaboration allows Roehampton to extend that work, ensuring that learners and employers have more coordinated access to training, research and specialist support.
Welcoming the launch of the partnership, Professor Jean Noël Ezingeard, Vice Chancellor of the University of Roehampton, said:
“At the University of Roehampton, our mission has always been to widen opportunity, support our diverse communities and help our students thrive in their chosen careers. This partnership strengthens that commitment. It allows us to build on our long standing work with local organisations, deepen our contribution to South London and create clearer routes for residents to access education, skills and high quality employment. Roehampton is proud to play a leading role in shaping a fairer, more inclusive and more prosperous future for our region.”
The partnership also builds on the success of BIG South London, through which universities and colleges in the area have already supported more than a thousand businesses, created jobs, attracted investment and enabled new products and services to be developed. By establishing a more strategic framework for collaboration, the new partnership will help institutions work more effectively with the South London Partnership of borough councils, giving regional leaders a clearer point of engagement for education, skills and innovation.
As a member of the partnership, the University of Roehampton will help create new opportunities for students to gain the skills, experience and connections they need to thrive. The collaboration will support more employer linked learning, clearer progression routes and greater access to industry networks across South London. It will also open up new avenues for students to engage in research, innovation and community projects. By working alongside neighbouring institutions and local boroughs, Roehampton can ensure that its students benefit from a richer, more connected and more ambitious regional education system that prepares them for successful and meaningful careers.
