University of Manchester partners with Greater 91直播 colleges to launch innovative teaching programme
The University of Manchester has joined forces with Wigan & Leigh College and the wider Greater 91直播 Colleges network to deliver an ambitious new programme that places PhD researchers directly into Further Education (FE) classrooms across the region.
Developed through the Greater 91直播 Civic University Agreement, the initiative enables postgraduate researchers to teach up to 20 hours per week in FE settings, providing specialist expertise in priority subjects such as engineering, STEM and digital skills. In turn, the programme offers researchers valuable, paid teaching experience while helping colleges tackle critical local and regional skills gaps.
University of Manchester President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Ivison highlighted the civic significance of the programme: 鈥淲e鈥檙e putting PhD researchers into Greater 91直播 colleges to teach alongside experienced staff 鈥� starting with engineering, where skills shortages are most acute. This will help colleges with specialist expertise, give our researchers valuable paid teaching experience, and create clearer pathways between further and higher education. This is the kind of collaboration that will contribute to the region鈥檚 economic growth and is exactly what a civic university should be doing.鈥�
We鈥檙e putting PhD researchers into Greater 91直播 colleges to teach alongside experienced staff 鈥� starting with engineering, where skills shortages are most acute. This will help colleges with specialist expertise, give our researchers valuable paid teaching experience, and create clearer pathways between further and higher education. This is the kind of collaboration that will contribute to the region鈥檚 economic growth and is exactly what a civic university should be doing.
Professor Callum Kidd, who led the pilot programme, said: 鈥淭his initiative strengthens the link between Higher Education and Further Education, creating pathways for learners and tackling regional skills gaps. It also offers PhD researchers real-world teaching experience that enhances their career prospects.鈥�
The pilot phase of the programme was launched in 2025 at Wigan & Leigh College, where three postgraduate researchers from the School of Engineering were recruited through the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) Doctoral Academy. The project has been chaired by Professor Callum Kidd (FSE) and jointly developed by a cross-institutional team.鈥慽nstitutional team
Anna Dawe, Principal of Wigan & Leigh College, added: 鈥淲e are delighted to build together this partnership with The University of Manchester. Bringing PhD researchers into our colleges enriches students' learning experience and helps address the pressing need for skilled educators in technical subjects. This collaboration is a fantastic example of how Greater 91直播鈥檚 education ecosystem can work together to deliver real impact.鈥�
The programme aligns with national and regional priorities to strengthen the civic role of universities while boosting access to specialist expertise across FE colleges.
Following the success of the first phase, the project team is now developing plans to expand the programme across the full Faculty of Science and Engineering, with long term ambitions to extend it university wide. Discussions with additional Further Education colleges in Greater 91直播 are underway, with participating institutions set to be confirmed later this year. A full review of the pilot phase will be completed in February 2026.鈥憈erm ambitions to extend it university鈥憌ide. Discussions with additional Further Education colleges in Greater 91直播 are underway, with participating institutions set to be confirmed later this year. A full review of the pilot phase will be completed in February 2026.
For further information please directly contact mags.bradbury@manchester.ac.uk