Statement from SWan Board of Management

The first three years of SWan have been a strongly positive experience. We have not only achieved the vast majority of the original milestones set down by HEFCE, but have also implemented a number of activities additional to those originally envisaged.

 

All three Institutions have expressed their commitment to continuing collaboration through the vehicle of SWan.  While the external economic environment is very challenging and likely to remain so for some time, the SWan members agree that students and staff of all partners will derive significant benefits from building on the investment to date and developing the opportunities offered by the synergies between the three institutions. The partners will be looking to invest in sustainable ways in opportunities that arise in biomedical and life sciences, and in the impending transformation in the delivery of health and social care, particularly within South West London.

A number of new areas of collaboration and activities will be added to those already included in SWan, some being the new initiatives identified during the recent merger discussions between RHUL and SGUL. The academic areas of focus will be discussed at a SWan AwayDay in early November and following approval by the Board of Management, the next phase of SWan will begin in early 2010. The emphasis will be on the creation of shared Masters programmes and research collaborations and an increased focus on CPD and short course provision.

October 2009