HP adds Staffordshire to university roster

Vendor to jointly develop degree courses while offering mentoring and internships

HP has deepened its reach into the UK's further education sector with a new partnership with Staffordshire University which will see the vendor helping to build degree courses and providing internships and mentoring for students.

The manufacturer has focused on education in recent years, teaming up with a series of institutions to provide HP-centric degree courses. The Staffordshire tie-up will see the university and HP work on developing joint degree courses, the first of which is intended to be a BSc in computing including a year working abroad in the IT industry.

The partnership will also see the vendor offering internships within the company, and both technical and commercially focused employees will provide mentoring and guest lectures. HP and Staffordshire University will also team up to produce research into areas such as cloud, networking and security, while top-performing students will be rewarded at the HP Innovation Awards.

Michael Gunn, vice chancellor at the university, said: "The partnership will support our aim for every student to graduate from Staffordshire University with the attitude, skills and essential attributes of employability, enterprise and entrepreneurship to secure a rewarding career and make their mark on the world."

Four months ago Nick Wilson, HP's UK and Ireland managing director, stressed the importance of working with universities to produce capable technology graduates and bolster its relationship with the UK government and improve its standing as a corporate citizen. In 2010 partnerships with Buckinghamshire New University, De Montfort University and the University of the West of England were announced, with the University of West Scotland and Coventry University added last year.

"As technology changes the world around us, universities increasingly must prepare students for a new global workplace," said Wilson today. "HP is proud to be supporting Staffordshire in its drive to provide students with international opportunities, so that its graduates leave with the right professional skills for employment. We believe the opportunities and expertise HP can offer as a global technology company will make a real difference."