Business Connect Newsletter
Connect with Canterbury Christ Church University
Supporting organisations to reach their potential and drive innovation across a wide range of disciplines and sectors.
Welcome to the first issue of our Connect B2B newsletter, brought to you by the Enterprise and Engagement Department at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU).
Who is this newsletter for?
Businesses, communities, entrepreneurs, third/public sectors, or anyone who would like to learn about the services we can offer organisations. Expect to see success stories, featured experts, upcoming events, and more. Don’t miss our Fun Fact at the end of the newsletter.
Who are we?
The Enterprise and Engagement Department serves as the business development and relationship management function, connecting our external stakeholders with the University to enable them to access the right expertise, resources, and talent. We have worked with thousands of different organisations, supporting them on a variety of projects and initiatives from community outreach; capacity and capability building; to innovation design and development. Examples of such work include but are not limited to: commissioning research or consultancy, accessing cutting-edge technology and facilities, accessing academic experts, or simply growing networks.
Here we are at our ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ morning!
Meet the Expert?- Jaspal Kaur Sadhu Singh , PhD??
Expertise: ICT Law; AI, Law & Ethics; Media & Free Speech; Legal Education?
Jaspal’s current research is in legal and ethical debates involving AI governance, including technology law-related challenges, free speech and expression. Her teaching focuses on ICT and E-commerce Law and Data Governance Law, delivering the AI Governance: Law and Policy module offered on the law programme at the University.??
She is a subject matter expert invited to participate in the National Data Sharing Policy by the Ministry of Communications & Digital Economy and the AI National Roadmap on the AI Governance and Ethics Working Committee at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. She is currently carrying out a landscape study of the Pro-Innovation to AI Regulation White Paper published by the Department of Science, Technology & Innovation (UK) in March 2023 and is a member of a group of experts writing up an AI ethical framework for Malaysia.?
Jaspal is one of our Christ Church Consultants and can assist businesses that are developing and deploying AI tools in creating assessment strategies as part of a regulatory sandbox and in meeting the rigours of a Trustworthy and Responsible AI. With the increasing ubiquity and maturity of AI tools, concerns of risks and harms flowing from their use, and the ever-growing call for trust, Jaspal foresees the incremental demand of businesses to be held accountable for consequences, both legal and ethical, of their use.??
To read about Jaspal’s expertise in full, go to Access our Experts?
Read Jaspal’s blog post: AI governance race – to halt, ramble or run??
360 online article:? Obstacles and opportunities for free speech in Malaysia?
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships- the UK government’s best kept secret??
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) have been around for almost 50 years and have helped transform more than 15,000 businesses across the UK.?
Part-funded by Innovate UK, they involve a three-way partnership between a University, an external business partner and an associate (a suitably qualified graduate with the capability to lead on a strategic project). Working together, a KTP is designed to deliver an ambitious and innovative project with the capability to transform or accelerate the business in some way (over the course of 1-3 years). Not-for-profits can benefit from 75% funding towards the cost of a project; 67% for SMEs and 50% for large companies.?
We will be featuring different types of KTPs in future editions of the newsletter to help you understand the impact of one of the Government’s best kept secrets.?
A KTP that was rated ‘outstanding’ by Innovate UK was with a food manufacturer that had a desire to improve inconsistencies in the quality, taste and texture of their products. Academics with Computer Science expertise worked with the associate to develop a process control system using Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and prediction models to achieve product consistency. The business was able to move to the latest technology without the need to change their traditional machinery; this resulted in expanding their production capacity and improving their product quality. The success of the work undertaken also aided their long-term strategy for?transferring business towards multiple retail and export markets.?
These tangible benefits for the organisation demonstrate how rewarding a KTP can be for an organisation. If you have a project that we may be able to help with, please contact us at?[email protected]?for a chat with one of our Engagement Managers.? ? ?
Need ethical, commission-free recruitment services to elevate your team?
Unitemps?is CCCU's in-house recruitment service that offers an ethical, quality and community approach to recruitment. Our consultants have years of experience and are not commission-based as profits are reinvested in the student experience.
Unitemps offers different sectors across the region the opportunity to access and recruit students, graduates and members of the local community. We have a diverse, quality talent base at CCCU, and are the largest supplier of graduate talent to Kent and Medway. Whether your requirement is temporary, permanent, part time or full time, we can provide a recruitment solution for you.?This year alone, the branch at Canterbury has filled more than 2,150 assignments, employing over 800 workers across CCCU (80% students) and for 40 external businesses.?Promoting a vacancy is a very simple process and provides a hassle-free service with big rewards. Your vacancy would appear on our website, www.unitemps.com, social and student webpages along with exposure to any relevant University departments. Additionally, our registered candidates receive a weekly mailshot with all the latest jobs.?Contact [email protected] now to discuss your recruitment needs. ?
For more information and to have a chat about how we can help your business or organisation, contact the Enterprise and Engagement Department: [email protected]?
Save the date! Vice-Chancellor’s Business Games
The third Vice-Chancellors Business Games are back in 2024!
Save the date: 4th July 2024
A fantastic opportunity for staff from local businesses and partners to gather and enjoy some friendly competition as they take part in a range of sporting activities, competing for the Business Games trophy.
You can:
More details will be announced soon on how you and your business can join in for a day of fundraising, networking and fun sports activities.
Want to know what you could be letting yourself in for? Watch this year's video?here.
Wattbike Training Sessions
Have you considered improving your fitness through cycling using the highly popular Wattbikes?
What are they?
Wattbikes have taken the fitness world by storm, providing a highly popular and fun way to exercise, whilst meeting like-minded people. Tailored to your ability, the sessions are designed to improve your fitness in an efficient and effective way.
Who are they for?
Everyone who wants to improve their fitness through cycling.
When/where are they?
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 18:30 and 19:45 throughout October to March, in Verena Holmes Building at CCCU.
To find out more about the sessions click here
To book a training block, click here
Fun Fact of the Month
Did you know that the Chancellor of CCCU is the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby??You can read more about our Chancellor here
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Public Lectures at CCCU
We believe knowledge and expertise should be available to everybody.
Our Public Lecture series is designed to bring this directly to the community, with free talks from experts and prominent figures on a diverse, thought-provoking range of topics. Recent speakers have included Jo Brand, who discussed attitudes to and experiences of ageing, Robin Ince, who argued that reading enhances our empathy and understanding of one another, and Dame Sara Thornton, who dispelled myths around modern slavery.
Coming up on Wednesday 22 November is Sarah Porter, an award-winning tech entrepreneur and international AI advisor, with her lecture Mortal Humans, Time Machines and a Future with AI, where she will provide an overview of the current state of AI, and explore what that means for our future.
Find out more and book free tickets at canterbury.ac.uk/public lectures.
In a world that is constantly changing, are here to support organisations to reach their potential and drive innovation across a wide range of disciplines and sectors. Whether you are looking to commission research or consultancy to drive your business goals, to find out more about hosting an event with us, or simply to grow your network, Canterbury Christ Church University has the resources and expertise to support you with a range of business solutions.
Connect with us [email protected]
Visit our website www.canterbury.ac.uk/business
Follow us on?LinkedIn
Read our blog https://blogs.canterbury.ac.uk/cccuconnect/
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