Education (Colleges & Universities)
Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
State's investment in cancer research has helped draw top talent to UTSW
DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 24 -- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center posted the following news release:* * *
State's investment in cancer research has helped draw top talent to UTSW
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DALLAS - Dec. 19, 2025 - Early in his career, Ralf Kittler, Ph.D., attracted the attention of academic leaders at UT Southwestern Medical Center with his studies of DNA transcription factors and their role in tumor growth and suppression. His promising cancer research earned him an invitation to relocate to Dallas, where a $2 million grant from the state-funded Cancer Prevention and Research Institute ... Show Full Article DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 24 -- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center posted the following news release: * * * State's investment in cancer research has helped draw top talent to UTSW * DALLAS - Dec. 19, 2025 - Early in his career, Ralf Kittler, Ph.D., attracted the attention of academic leaders at UT Southwestern Medical Center with his studies of DNA transcription factors and their role in tumor growth and suppression. His promising cancer research earned him an invitation to relocate to Dallas, where a $2 million grant from the state-funded Cancer Prevention and Research Instituteof Texas (CPRIT) would help create his own lab at UTSW and turbocharge his scientific investigations.
Arriving from the University of Chicago in 2009, Dr. Kittler was the first of more than 300 highly sought-after scientists who have been recruited to Texas through the state's multimillion-dollar program to advance the understanding and treatment of cancer.
In the more than 15 years since then, Dr. Kittler has become an Associate Professor at UT Southwestern's Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development and the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center as well as in the Department of Pharmacology. And CPRIT has provided more than $250 million in financial support to add faculty at UT Southwestern, giving it a competitive edge to attract some of the world's most dynamic and in-demand cancer researchers.
Ralf Kittler, Ph.D., (left) Associate Professor at UT Southwestern's Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, and Robert Bachoo, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurology, have studied ways to treat glioblastoma, a tumor that affects the brain and spinal cord.
This investment also has contributed to the foundational growth and success of Simmons Cancer Center, one of 57 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country and the only one in North Texas. Today, Simmons Cancer Center has 277 faculty members across 37 academic departments, runs hundreds of active clinical trials, and supports five research programs and 14 disease-oriented teams. UT Southwestern is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 20 hospitals for cancer care in the nation.
"It was clear from the start that CPRIT would be transformative for cancer research at UT Southwestern," Dr. Kittler said.
Statewide, CPRIT's impact has been equally profound. It has funneled nearly $1 billion to academic institutions, research organizations, and biomedical companies to bring the best and brightest scientists and clinical investigators to Texas. And it was all done with one bold mission in mind: to make the state a global leader in the fight against cancer.
Steering the future of cancer therapy
Created with voter approval in 2007, CPRIT began with a $3 billion investment to accelerate cancer research, support screening and preventive services, develop therapies, and recruit top talent to make it all possible. In 2019, Texans overwhelmingly supported a constitutional amendment to continue CPRIT's work and infuse another $3 billion into the program. CPRIT has since become the largest state cancer research investment in U.S. history and the second-largest cancer research and prevention program anywhere.
"CPRIT has invested millions of dollars in our effort to screen for, prevent, and fight cancer, moving us closer every day to breakthrough therapies and life-changing medicines," said Carlos L. Arteaga, M.D., Director of the Simmons Cancer Center and Associate Dean of Oncology Programs at UT Southwestern. Dr. Arteaga, who joined UTSW as the Center's director in 2017 with a $6 million CPRIT recruitment grant, is an internationally renowned physician-scientist who has led the development and approval of molecularly targeted therapies for breast cancer. In 2024, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine.
Academic institutions across the state have successfully pursued some of the most accomplished researchers to bring to Texas. Investigators have come from every corner of the U.S. and abroad, including countries in Europe, South America, and Asia. And the grants are awarded to scientists of all levels, from first-time, tenure-track junior faculty to mid-level associate professors to established senior researchers.
Among the most recent high-profile hires at UT Southwestern is Stefan Gloeggler, Ph.D., Professor in the Advanced Imaging Research Center and of Biomedical Engineering, who was recruited from the Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences in Gottingen, Germany. Dr. Gloeggler is a pioneer in hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, which can be applied in studies of cancer metabolism to improve disease detection and treatment.
Daniel Addison, M.D., former Director of the Cardio-Oncology Program at The Ohio State University, also joined the faculty at UT Southwestern through a CPRIT Rising Star recruitment award. Dr. Addison is Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Director of Translational Research in the Division of Cardiology, and Associate Director for Survivorship and Outcomes Research in the Simmons Cancer Center. His research on the link between cancer treatments and cardiovascular disease has led to multicenter clinical trials that aim to eliminate or reduce such heart complications.
Most recently, Shixuan Liu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Neuroscience in the Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, was recruited to UT Southwestern this year from Stanford University with the help of a $2 million CPRIT Scholar grant. Her lab's research focuses on decoding the molecular mechanisms of the seasonal clock and its cross-talk with circadian rhythms.
Many early-career researchers who were brought to UT Southwestern through CPRIT have continued their path to great academic success.
Matteo Ligorio, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery and in the Simmons Cancer Center, arrived at UT Southwestern in 2020 from Harvard after he was awarded a CPRIT First-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty Member grant. In October 2025, Nature Medicine published a one-of-a-kind study he co-led that shifted the paradigm on the understanding of how cancer kills. His findings suggest the ultimate cause of cancer death is not metastatic disease, but the invasion of tumors into major blood vessels that lead to blood clots and multi-organ failure. With this new discovery, he and his co-author Kelley Newcomer, M.D., Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern, are now collaborating with other researchers from around the world to design clinical trials that can test potentially more effective cancer therapies.
Just this month, the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science & Technology (TAMEST) named Yunsun Nam, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at UT Southwestern, as the winner of the prestigious 2026 Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award in Biological Sciences for her scientific achievements. Dr. Nam was also recruited to UT Southwestern as a first-time, tenure-track faculty member. Arriving in Dallas in 2012, Dr. Nam is widely recognized for her research on the molecular interactions of RNA and modifying proteins.
Financially backed by CPRIT and UTSW, these impactful researchers have the funding they need to purchase leading-edge lab equipment and hire the necessary staff to continue their pursuit of cancer breakthroughs.
"The resources you have when you start your career as a principal investigator are vitally important," Dr. Kittler said.
Since his arrival, UT Southwestern has recruited more than 90 other experts with CPRIT support specializing in a variety of cancers - from liver cancer to ocular cancer to breast cancer to leukemia as well as biomedical engineers and stem cell researchers, all of whom have made significant contributions to science.
Dr. Kittler himself was the co-leader of an investigation into how lentiviruses can mutate oncoproteins and render cancer cells resistant to drug therapy. By understanding the mechanisms at play and how to manipulate them, Dr. Kittler's findings may unlock the development of more effective and targeted cancer treatments.
"CPRIT triggered a rapid growth of resources, talent, and collaboration soon after its start," Dr. Kittler said. "It has been a massive stimulus to our university and exceeded expectations."
Discoveries that have a lasting impact
Sean J. Morrison, Ph.D., (left) founding director of Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, works with Julia Phan, Ph.D., a former graduate student researcher and current student in the Medical Scientist Training Program at UT Southwestern.
In 2011, Sean J. Morrison, Ph.D., was recruited with a $10 million CPRIT grant to become the founding director of Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI).
The nonprofit institute is focused on pioneering research at the intersection of stem cells, cancer, and metabolism. Since CRI's inception, the internationally recognized team of scientists has made significant discoveries that improved the understanding of the biological basis of diseases, including cancer.
Dr. Morrison's research has redefined strategies for cancer treatment. His studies in melanoma showed that antioxidants can promote disease progression and led to studies that are attempting to develop new pro-oxidant therapies. His work also uncovered the role of the bone marrow microenvironment, where blood-forming stem cells are located, leading to new insights that improved the safety of bone marrow and stem cell transplantation.
"CPRIT has profoundly strengthened cancer research in Texas because it accelerates medical science in a way that is not replicated in other parts of the country, where funding is difficult to obtain," said Dr. Morrison, Professor in CRI and of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the European Molecular Biology Organization. Since 2000, he has also been a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator. "Texas is the only state, aside from California, to make a multibillion-dollar commitment to science and to renew that investment after the initial term," he said.
Exceptional reputation and vision drive progress
At the core of UT Southwestern's mission is the commitment to enhance lives by developing better treatments, cures, and preventive care - a common goal shared by all CPRIT scholars.
Joshua T. Mendell, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, studies how microRNAs contribute to oncogenesis and tumor suppression.
Joshua T. Mendell, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern, member of the Cellular Networks in Cancer Research Program in the Simmons Cancer Center, and an HHMI Investigator, was also recruited with CPRIT support in 2011, after discovering that microRNAs can be modulated to inhibit liver cancer in mouse models. At UT Southwestern, Dr. Mendell and his lab continue to investigate how these noncoding molecules contribute to oncogenesis and tumor suppression.
"Our goal is to advance our understanding of RNA biology and to discover new functions for RNAs, because these molecules play critical roles in normal biology and often go awry in cancer and other diseases," said Dr. Mendell, who, in October 2025, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine. "Because of this, there is a strong interest in developing medicines based on RNA - the most famous and successful example, in recent times, being the COVID-19 vaccine."
In fact, it is the same field of research that was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in both 2023 and 2024.
"UT Southwestern has always recognized the value of basic science," Dr. Mendell said. "The research conducted on this campus has repeatedly demonstrated how fundamental scientific discoveries can lead to new clinical innovations that impact the lives of patients. While UT Southwestern has grown since my arrival here, the institutional commitment to bold and collaborative research has also continued."
Recent CPRIT grants support AI research, lung and cervical cancer prevention programs
CPRIT awards grants not only to recruit scientists to Texas but also to fund research and cancer prevention efforts. In November, CPRIT announced its latest round of awards, including nearly $15 million in grants to UT Southwestern faculty members for programs ranging from lung cancer screening and tobacco cessation to research related to artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced imaging. In addition, recruitment grants for the year totaled $10 million to attract tenure-track faculty members to UTSW.
A sampling of significant CPRIT grants funded to UTSW in 2025 include:
* Nearly $3 million to Kevin Dean, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, to establish the Cancer Cell Imaging Core (CCIC), a facility to visualize and analyze cancer cells in unprecedented detail.
* Nearly $3 million to Guanghua Xiao, Ph.D., Professor in the Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and the Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, to establish a Data Science and AI Core for Population Research (DAICOR) in Texas.
* Nearly $2.5 million to Keith Argenbright, M.D., Director of the Moncrief Cancer Institute, Professor and member of the Population Science and Cancer Control Research Program in the Simmons Cancer Center, and Professor in the O'Donnell School of Public Health, to implement a cervical cancer screening program in North Texas.
* Nearly $2.5 million to David Gerber, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and Co-Director of the Simmons Cancer Center's Office of Education and Training, to advance existing integrated lung cancer screening and tobacco cessation programs - with efforts focused on populations in southern Dallas County.
Dr. Addison holds the Audre and Bernard Rapoport Chair in Cardiovascular Research.
Dr. Argenbright is a Distinguished Teaching Professor.
Dr. Arteaga holds the Annette Simmons Distinguished University Chair in Breast Cancer Research.
Dr. Gerber holds the David Bruton, Jr. Professorship in Clinical Cancer Research.
Dr. Kittler is the John L. Roach Scholar in Biomedical Research.
Dr. Mendell holds the Charles Cameron Sprague, M.D. Chair in Medical Science.
Dr. Morrison holds the Kathryne and Gene Bishop Distinguished Chair in Pediatric Research at Children's Research Institute at UT Southwestern and the Mary McDermott Cook Chair in Pediatric Genetics.
Dr. Nam holds the Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science and is a Southwestern Medical Foundation Scholar in Biomedical Research and a UT Southwestern Presidential Scholar.
Dr. Xiao holds the Mary Dees McDermott Hicks Chair in Medical Science.
About UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern, one of the nation's premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution's faculty members have received six Nobel Prizes and include 24 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 25 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 3,200 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties to more than 140,000 hospitalized patients, more than 360,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 5.1 million outpatient visits a year.
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Original text here: https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2025/dec-cprit-recruitment-grants-cancer-research.html
Uppsala University: Right Blood Pressure Drug Can Reduce Healthcare Costs
UPPSALA, Sweden, Dec. 22 (TNSjou) -- Uppsala University issued the following news release:* * *
Right blood pressure drug can reduce healthcare costs
Patients who start their blood pressure treatment with ARB drugs continue with the same medicine to a greater extent than patients who start out with other drugs. Choosing the right drug from the outset can therefore improve both health and quality of life - as well as bringing down healthcare costs. This is shown in a new study based on data from 340,000 patients.
"If we can get more patients to continue taking their blood pressure medication ... Show Full Article UPPSALA, Sweden, Dec. 22 (TNSjou) -- Uppsala University issued the following news release: * * * Right blood pressure drug can reduce healthcare costs Patients who start their blood pressure treatment with ARB drugs continue with the same medicine to a greater extent than patients who start out with other drugs. Choosing the right drug from the outset can therefore improve both health and quality of life - as well as bringing down healthcare costs. This is shown in a new study based on data from 340,000 patients. "If we can get more patients to continue taking their blood pressure medicationand refrain from discontinuing their treatment, this will clearly improve their cardiovascular health and they will live longer," says Karl Laurell, a researcher at Uppsala University. "At the same time, healthcare costs decrease if patients are prescribed the medicine they are most likely to persist with from the start. For patients and doctors, these findings mean that ARB drugs should be the preferred choice when treatment for high blood pressure is initiated, unless there are obvious reasons to choose something else."
A risk factor for cardiovascular disease
High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and premature death. At least 1.8 million people in Sweden are estimated to have high blood pressure. There are several effective drugs that lower blood pressure and prolong life, but despite this, many patients fail to achieve their treatment goals. Many also stop taking their medicine. The researchers in this study therefore wanted to investigate whether the choice of the first medication affects the way the treatment works in the longer term.
The study compared the four classes of drugs that are recommended most strongly for treating high blood pressure: angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi), calcium channel blocker (CCB), and thiazide/thiazide-like diuretic (TD).
340,000 participants
The study is based on data from several national healthcare registers and involves more than 340,000 people with high blood pressure but without previous cardiovascular disease. The participants began their treatment between 2011 and 2018 and were followed for several years, focusing on how well they persisted with their original treatment.
Fewer side effects with ARB treatment
The results show that patients who started with ARB continued with the same drug class over time to a greater extent than others. After five years, 80 per cent of these patients were still showing good adherence to their original medicine, compared with 65 per cent for calcium channel blockers, the second best drug class. The majority of those who stopped taking their medicine continued their treatment but with another blood pressure drug, usually ARB.
"The primary explanation is probably that ARB has fewer side-effects than other drugs. Patients who are already using another blood pressure medicine that works well for them without side-effects have no reason to change. Having said that, it's important to check your blood pressure regularly as it often rises with age and further medication may then need to be added," says Laurell.
Article: Karl Laurell, et al.; Persistence to antihypertensive drug classes in uncomplicated hypertension: a nationwide Swedish cohort study, eClinicalMedicine, 2025, 103696, ISSN 2589-5370, DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103696
The study was funded by Anders Wiklof, Region Uppsala and the Geriatric Foundation.
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Original text here: https://www.mynewsdesk.com/uu/pressreleases/right-blood-pressure-drug-can-reduce-healthcare-costs-3423025
Northumbria University: Report Calls on the UK Banking Industry to Consider Interventions That 'Design Out' Economic Abuse
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, England, Dec. 22 (TNSrpt) -- Northumbria University issued the following news release:* * *
Report calls on the UK banking industry to consider interventions that "design out" economic abuse
Researchers have published the findings of a ground-breaking study which brought together victim-survivors and banking professionals to co-design ways of preventing economic abuse in the UK banking industry.
Economic abuse occurs when an abusive intimate partner or ex-partner restricts, exploits or sabotages a victim-survivors' economic resources, including money, finances, housing, ... Show Full Article NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, England, Dec. 22 (TNSrpt) -- Northumbria University issued the following news release: * * * Report calls on the UK banking industry to consider interventions that "design out" economic abuse Researchers have published the findings of a ground-breaking study which brought together victim-survivors and banking professionals to co-design ways of preventing economic abuse in the UK banking industry. Economic abuse occurs when an abusive intimate partner or ex-partner restricts, exploits or sabotages a victim-survivors' economic resources, including money, finances, housing,transport and technology. It is legally recognised as a form of abuse in England and Wales under the 2021 Domestic Abuse Act.
The report, Designing Out Economic Abuse in the UK Banking Industry: A Call To Action, highlights the ways in which banking products, services and technologies are intentionally weaponised by abusers to cause harm to their intimate partners - limiting their freedom and creating economic instability. The report also presents potential ways of disrupting and preventing this abuse.
Led by Dr Clare Wiper at Northumbria University, in collaboration with Dr Belen Barros Pena at City St George's, University of London, and Dr Kathryn Royal at the national charity Surviving Economic Abuse, the research employed innovative participatory design methods to bring together six victim-survivors and six banking professionals as partners in the design process. The banking professionals were from five major UK banks.
Between January and June 2025, the participants worked collaboratively to identify how financial products are being misused to perpetrate economic abuse, and to develop ideas for interventions which they hope could prevent harm. The report calls on UK banks to help feasibility test the proposed interventions and develop workable protections.
Dr Wiper, Assistant Professor in Criminology from Northumbria University's School of Humanities and Social Sciences, said: "This research demonstrates the power of bringing together lived experience and industry expertise to tackle a problem that affects millions of people across the UK - disproportionately women.
"Many current banking responses to economic abuse are largely reactive - taking place after harm has occurred. Our participants have shown that banks have significant opportunities to be more proactive, and that this isn't always about massive investment or revolutionary technology - sometimes it's about asking one additional question during joint account opening or ensuring that digital banking features are designed with victim-survivor safety in mind."
The research identified two priority interventions which were selected by victim-survivors:
* Detecting and disclosing economic abuse - enabling banks to become aware of abuse either through customer disclosures or proactive detection of unusual patterns, with specialist trauma-informed staff providing flexible support
* Joint account protections and education - changing terms and conditions so joint accounts holders can be treated as "tenants in common" using the same approach taken in joint home ownership, allowing banks to split account balances in cases of abuse, alongside settings requiring both customers' consent for large withdrawals
One victim-survivor who participated in the study reflected: "What I think I love about this project is... it's about looking for solutions, and prevention is so much more powerful than cure."
Dr Kathryn Royal, Senior Research Officer at Surviving Economic Abuse, said: "4.2 million women across the UK experienced economic abuse from a current or ex-partner in the last year alone. From our work with victim-survivors, we know that abusers routinely misuse financial products and services to control, intimidate and cause lasting harm.
"This research shows that the most effective solutions to economic abuse emerge when survivor expertise is placed at the heart of design. By bringing victim-survivors and banking professionals together, with survivors leading the way, this project demonstrates how banks can move beyond reactive responses and proactively design economic abuse out of their systems. We are incredibly grateful to UKFin+ for supporting this work, and to the victim-survivors and professionals who shared their expertise to make it possible.
"With the Government's Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy recognising the important role of the financial services sector in the response to economic abuse, and its Financial Inclusion Strategy supporting an industry-led Inclusive Design Working Group, this report offers a timely and practical roadmap for change. Financial services firms have a real opportunity to create safer, more inclusive financial products that work for everyone. At Surviving Economic Abuse, we stand ready to work with the sector to turn survivor insight into action and prevent economic abuse before it starts."
The report reveals significant challenges facing the banking sector, including regulatory restrictions, continuous technological advancements which aid abusers' misuse of banking infrastructure, and difficulties responding to abusive customers without putting victim-survivors at increased risk of harm or retaliation. However, it also highlights numerous opportunities for change - from adapting existing fraud detection practices to implementing enhanced verification for online transactions.
Importantly, the research found that banking professionals are keen to do more. One banking participant said: "[Economic abuse is] an area that we see, sadly, an increasing number of people suffering from ... and it just feels like there's so much more that we could do."
Dr Belen Barros Pena, an interaction designer and researcher from City St George's, University of London, said: "This research shows how our always-on, fast and convenient financial technologies have unintended consequences and can be misappropriated for harmful purposes. In their current form, financial technologies are not designed to frustrate or prevent such harms. To change this, we must ensure victim-survivors have a voice and can contribute to technology-making processes."
The research was funded by an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)/UKFin+ feasibility grant. The full report is available to view online here.
At Northumbria University, Dr Wiper leads other projects about economic abuse, including the UK's first academic study about coerced debt, and co-leads the University's interdisciplinary Gendered Violence and Abuse research theme.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Royal, K., Wiper, C., and Barros Pena, B. (2025) Designing Out Economic Abuse in the UK Banking Industry: A Call To Action is available here: https://doi.org/10.25398/rd.northumbria.30499676
This research was funded by an EPSRC/UKFin+ Feasibility Grant (EP/W034042/1)
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Notes to editors
About Northumbria University:
Northumbria is a research-intensive university that unlocks potential for all, changing lives regionally, nationally and internationally.
Two thirds of Northumbria's undergraduate students come from the North East region and go into employment in the region when they graduate, demonstrating Northumbria's significant contribution to social mobility and levelling up in the North East of England.
Find out more about us at www.northumbria.ac.uk
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About City St George's, University of London:
City St George's, University of London educates more than 27,000 students from over 170 countries across three campuses in Clerkenwell, Moorgate and Tooting. The University is one of the largest higher education destinations for London students and one of the most significant suppliers of the health workforce in the capital. The University is highly ranked for student employability and the impact of its research.
Find out more at www.citystgeorges.ac.uk
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About Surviving Economic Abuse:
Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) is the only charity in the UK dedicated to raising awareness of economic abuse and transforming responses to it. All our work is informed by Experts by Experience - a group of women who share their experiences to be a force for change. https://survivingeconomicabuse.org/
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REPORT: file:///C:/Users/Admin/Downloads/Designing%20Out%20Economic%20Abuse%20Report%202025.pdf
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Original text here: https://newsroom.northumbria.ac.uk/pressreleases/report-calls-on-the-uk-banking-industry-to-consider-interventions-that-design-out-economic-abuse-3422784
Keele Joins Worldwide Canal-city University Network to Tackle Global Challenges
STAFFORDSHIRE, England, Dec. 22 -- Keele University issued the following news:* * *
Keele joins new worldwide canal-city university network to tackle global challenges
Keele University has become a founding member of a new international alliance linking institutions based in some of the world's most significant canal regions.
More than 520 canals across over 50 countries link some 3,000 cities worldwide, forming major corridors of trade, culture and cooperation.
The Canal-city University Cooperation Mechanism, launched at a symposium in Yangzhou, China, brings together 23 universities from ... Show Full Article STAFFORDSHIRE, England, Dec. 22 -- Keele University issued the following news: * * * Keele joins new worldwide canal-city university network to tackle global challenges Keele University has become a founding member of a new international alliance linking institutions based in some of the world's most significant canal regions. More than 520 canals across over 50 countries link some 3,000 cities worldwide, forming major corridors of trade, culture and cooperation. The Canal-city University Cooperation Mechanism, launched at a symposium in Yangzhou, China, brings together 23 universities from10 countries, including partners located along China's Grand Canal, the Suez Canal in Egypt, and waterways in Portugal's Aveiro region and Brazil's Rio de Janeiro.
Keele was invited to join the network due to its proximity to the historic canal network running through nearby Stoke-on-Trent. The Trent & Mersey and Caldon Canals played a central role in the development of the pottery industry from the late 18th century, enabling the transport of raw materials and finished goods and underpinning the rise of manufacturers such as Josiah Wedgwood.
The new partnership aims to promote research collaboration, cross-cultural exchange and opportunities for student and staff mobility. A five-year action plan will steer joint work on environmental protection, sustainable urban development and innovation across canal regions.
Representing Keele at the launch, Dr Mirna Maarabouni, Dean of Internationalisation and Partnerships in the Faculty of Natural Sciences, said the initiative offered a "strategic platform" for deepening international engagement.
"As a founding member, Keele joined 22 other universities in signing the CUCM Charter, establishing a structured framework for long-term international collaboration across canal cities," she said.
"Building on our existing collaboration with Yangzhou University, we look forward to expanding our engagement through this new global network for the benefit of our students, partners and communities."
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Original text here: https://www.keele.ac.uk/about/news/2025/december/trent-mersey/global-canal-university.php
Highlights of 2025 - a Year of Innovation and Ambition for Kingston University
LONDON, England, Dec. 22 -- Kingston University London issued the following news:* * *
Highlights of 2025 - a year of innovation and ambition for Kingston University
Kingston University students, staff and alumni have celebrated a wide range of achievements and successes throughout 2025. As the year draws to a close, we reflect on the highlights of the past 12 months, from milestones in our sector-leading Future Skills approach to advances in teaching, learning, research and knowledge exchange, student celebrations and showcases and investments in our campuses.
In January, the achievements ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, Dec. 22 -- Kingston University London issued the following news: * * * Highlights of 2025 - a year of innovation and ambition for Kingston University Kingston University students, staff and alumni have celebrated a wide range of achievements and successes throughout 2025. As the year draws to a close, we reflect on the highlights of the past 12 months, from milestones in our sector-leading Future Skills approach to advances in teaching, learning, research and knowledge exchange, student celebrations and showcases and investments in our campuses. In January, the achievementsof some 3,000 graduates were applauded as they crossed the stage across 17 graduation ceremonies at the Rose Theatre in Kingston - with four influential figures also receiving honorary degrees. The University marked the launch of our largest ever live brief in conjunction with the John Lewis Partnership, with some 600 students involved as part of the Explore phase of our Future Skills programme.
February saw Kingston Business School at the forefront of two groundbreaking EU-funded research projects on 6G and edge computing technologies, while the funding of 16 Seedcorn Innovation projects was announced. Elsewhere, the 20th final of Kingston University's Bright Ideas competition saw pound sterling9,500 worth of prize money won by entrepreneurial students, while a Kingston School of Art filmmaker won multiple international awards for her groundbreaking short animation. To round off the month, brand-new immersive healthcare simulation suites equipped with the latest technology were opened at our Kingston Hill campus.
March was a notable month for Future Skills, with Kingston and Surbiton MP and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey opening a Westminster Hall debate championing the value of Future Skills. In the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and the Environment, a new PhD programme was launched to develop the rocket engineers of the future. Kingston Business School's Master of Business Administration (MBA) was included among the top global business schools in the latest CEO Magazine ranking and at the Penrhyn Road campus, a new sensory space for neurodivergent students opened.
In April, FIFA funding for research into ACL injuries in women's football, led by University academics was announced, while another new research study explored how roaming AI-powered sensors can help improve the accuracy of air quality monitoring. Engineering students and staff celebrated five years of Kingston Racing by preparing to compete in two international Formula Student competitions for the first time.
The University's research and knowledge exchange ambitions were highlighted during an all-staff event in May at Town House. Students taking part in the Future Skills live brief with the John Lewis Partnership took their learning into the fields of Leckford Estate in a Waitrose & Partners farm visit. While a criminology and sociology expert was awarded a British Academy ODA Global Innovation Fellowship to further pioneering research to develop solutions for young refugees facing social exclusion.
The creations of final year Kingston School of Art students took centre stage in June at the annual Kingston School of Art Degree show. Staff and teams from across the University were shortlisted for five University Alliance Awards, while our fourth Future Skills report, Perspectives from East and West was launched at the House of Commons. The latest report, which builds on three previous reports, found that UK businesses are placing increasing emphasis on human-centric skills for graduate recruitment.
In July, graduations returned as thousands donned their gown and mortar boards for our summer ceremonies. BBC journalist and broadcaster Clive Myrie emphasising the importance of hard work to graduates when awarded his Honorary Doctorate by the University. There was award success for our Future Skills approach at the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) Awards and the University was recognised for actions to improve outcomes for staff with disabilities.
August saw an influx of retro computer game fans flocking to an Archive of Retro Computing exhibition at Town House, while artificial intelligence and virtual reality were used in combination by academics from the University's Knowledge Exchange and Research Institutes to create an engaging new interpretation of a statue of King Athelstan, who is widely regarded by historians as the first King of England, as part of Kingston Council's cultural celebrations to mark the 1100th anniversary of his crowning.
As the new academic year began in September, the University reached a significant milestone with the much-anticipated roll-out of Apply - the final phase of its sector-leading undergraduate Future Skills programme. The University maintained its position in the top half of UK universities the 2026 Guardian University Guide and was recognised as one of the top institutions for graduate start-ups in the Knowledge Exchange Framework. In addition, its KU Cares programme was recognised with a new Quality Mark from the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL).
Two innovative research projects were shortlisted in the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards while teams and individuals earned top honours at this year's University Alliance Awards.
October saw more investments in our campuses with a range of new computing and engineering facilities were opened at Roehampton Vale and Penrhyn Road. In the same, month the University hosted a landmark international conference aimed at equipping teachers from Kingston and the Republic of Korea with the skills to integrate AI into their classrooms.
University researchers were selected for a prestigious Innovate UK programme to help commercialise their research. While at Kingston School of Art, four fashion graduates were shortlisted for a prestigious award that celebrates emerging creative talent on the world stage.
The University also submitted a planning application for a state-of-the-art education building at the Middle Mill site, designed to elevate creative learning and innovation at Kingston School of Art on its Knights Park campus. Closing the month, the transformative impact of our knowledge exchange expertise was celebrated at the Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Awards.
The official opening of the transformation of the main building at the Penrhyn Road campus and Adobe's education leader championing creativity and enterprise at our annual People Awards were highlights in November. Additionally, a study involving Kingston University developed a world-first platform to evaluate AI disease detection systems demonstrates safety for NHS use.
Rounding off the year, December saw an Amazon Science-funded research initiative in the spotlight, which aims to revolutionise genetic science by harnessing artificial intelligence. While there was award recognition for an architecture student who received a commendation in the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) awards for a groundbreaking dissertation inspired by Hebron's Old City in the West Bank, Palestine.
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Original text here: https://www.kingston.ac.uk/about/news/highlights-of-2025-a-year-of-innovation-and-ambition-for-kingston-university
Business students bring TEDx talk to SFSU
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Dec. 22 -- California State University San Francisco State University posted the following news:* * *
Business students bring TEDx talk to SFSU
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As the only public university in one of the world's most forward-thinking cities, San Francisco State University is a vital nerve center for new ideas and burgeoning talent. This makes our campus a prime location for a student-organized TEDx talk, bringing over 300 people to the Student Life Events Center on Nov. 15.
TEDx is a grassroots initiative of Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED), the distinguished nonprofit ... Show Full Article SAN FRANCISCO, California, Dec. 22 -- California State University San Francisco State University posted the following news: * * * Business students bring TEDx talk to SFSU * As the only public university in one of the world's most forward-thinking cities, San Francisco State University is a vital nerve center for new ideas and burgeoning talent. This makes our campus a prime location for a student-organized TEDx talk, bringing over 300 people to the Student Life Events Center on Nov. 15. TEDx is a grassroots initiative of Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED), the distinguished nonprofitthat presents live speaking events worldwide. Master of Business Administration (MBA) student Neil Sterud submitted an application for SFSU to host a TEDx talk. More than 20 additional students volunteered to help put on the event. For Sterud, organizing a TEDx event at SFSU is more than a career-building endeavor. It is a way to give back to the campus community.
"This is hands-on project management leadership. It's a massive, very complicated deal," said Sterud, who also serves as a second-class petty officer for the Navy Corps of Engineers. "It's a feather in the cap. That's another thing that I wanted for students, and that's what I was telling people. I said, 'Hey, jump on with this. Help out because brands on our resume matter. If you could put on your resume that you helped with an event like this, it could help with employers, and you shouldn't wait until you're out of college to try to get some experience.'"
The free event, themed " Seas of Change," explored innovative, resilient and courageous responses to the uncharted waters in today's society. The eight speakers spanned Bay Area nonprofit leaders as well as faculty from SFSU and the Cal Poly Maritime Academy covering topics such as addressing the housing crisis by building tiny homes, labor unions, artificial intelligence, branding, mental health and restorative justice. Magician Mike Toy (M.A., '11) served as emcee.
Volunteers included Liza Kucherova, a senior in Marketing who implemented a multichannel marketing campaign and created the event's web page. MBA student Alson Cheong played recruited other student volunteers and led a team that secured RSVPs and ran the check-in table.
"One of the main reasons I wanted to get involved is to serve our community and bring TEDx to San Francisco State. I also want to get valuable experience in event planning," said Cheong, who serves as a Lam Family College of Business ambassador and is also studying for a Pre-Law certificate. "This experience really helped me see all the procedural steps that it takes to get an event like this done."
The "TEDx at SF State" was made possible in part through the support of SFSU's Lam-Larsen Student Engagement Initiative and sponsored by SFSU's Lam Family College of Business (LFCoB). LFCoB staff also provided behind-the-scenes support to the student volunteers.
"LFCoB was delighted to sponsor the event," LFCoB Dean Eugene Sivadas said. "Our college is global in aspiration and reach, but draws its strength from the communities we serve. It was a pleasure to bring interesting and diverse viewpoints for the benefit of our students and the larger community we serve."
Learn more about SFSU's Lam Family College of Business.
Janet Wright, Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office investigator
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Original text here: https://news.sfsu.edu/news/business-students-bring-tedx-talk-sfsu
Aston University Wins Government Funding to Offer Digital Skills Training to Disadvantaged Young People
BIRMINGHAM, England, Dec. 22 -- Aston University issued the following news:* * *
Aston University wins government funding to offer digital skills training to disadvantaged young people
* An Aston University project with online platform We Job Box has won pound sterling260,000 to offer digital skills training to disadvantaged young people
* Led by Dr Angel Tan in the School of Psychology, the Digital Futures Work Experience Programme will begin in January 2026
* The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has funded 80 digital training schemes around the UK.
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An Aston University ... Show Full Article BIRMINGHAM, England, Dec. 22 -- Aston University issued the following news: * * * Aston University wins government funding to offer digital skills training to disadvantaged young people * An Aston University project with online platform We Job Box has won pound sterling260,000 to offer digital skills training to disadvantaged young people * Led by Dr Angel Tan in the School of Psychology, the Digital Futures Work Experience Programme will begin in January 2026 * The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has funded 80 digital training schemes around the UK. * An Aston Universityproject to offer digital skills training and work experience to disadvantaged young people has won funding from the UK Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
The Digital Futures Work Experience Programme offers disadvantaged people aged 13-23 50 hours of employer-led digital- and AI-focused activities. It is designed to build digital confidence, AI literacy, and career-ready skills, as well as expanding networks and creating progression routes into apprenticeships, employment, and further study. It uses virtual simulations and employer challenges to build skills, confidence, and career readiness, addressing digital poverty and supporting progression.
The programme, which has received pound sterling261,577, is one of 80 funded by DSIT from the first-of-its-kind pound sterling11.7 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, aimed to help the most vulnerable in communities get online with confidence.
Dr Angel Tan, a teaching fellow in Aston University School of Psychology, is the principal investigator for the project, providing academic leadership, overseeing the evaluation strategy and coordinating with We Job Box. Dr Laura Di Chiacchio, a lecturer at Aston Business School, is the co-investigator.
The Digital Futures Work Experience Programme will be designed and delivered by Lalita Taylor, founder and CEO of We Job Box, a UK-based innovation lab reimagining work experience for disadvantaged young people. We Job Box develops employer-led, digital and AI-driven learning experiences. With strong networks across both major employers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the organisation ensures participants gain industry-relevant, high-impact exposure that supports real pathways into work and further education.
The programme will also involve partners from schools, colleges, and youth organisations. Learners on the scheme, including those not in education, employment, or training (NEET), will progress through five digital badges aligned with UK priority sectors - digital and AI, health and wellbeing, engineering and design, business and consulting, and green innovation.
Traditional work experience is increasingly scarce, despite it being valued by employers - 29% consider it critical and 45% significant when recruiting. UK government research in 2024 found that work experience placements improve confidence, understanding of workplace norms, and readiness for employment. The Digital Futures Work Experience Programme offers a good alternative to traditional work experience placements with similar benefits.
Part of the grant will be used to provide 100 laptops and headsets as a shared equipment pool. Many of the participants lack suitable or reliable devices and this equipment pool will enable all to participate fully in the virtual campus classes, employer challenges and mentoring sessions.
Dr Tan said:
"This project stems from my research interest in transforming curricula to equip students with the career readiness needed for success in the 21st-century digital workplace. Through this collaboration with We Job Box and their industry partners, we are helping to drive employability, digital inclusion, and social mobility, while empowering young people with the confidence and insight needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
"The strong internal support for this initiative reflects Aston University's commitment to widening participation and ensuring that young people from underrepresented backgrounds have access to meaningful digital opportunities, in line with our wider strategy to deliver real-world impact through education and industrial partnerships."
Lalita Taylor said:
"We Job Box is proud to lead the design and delivery of the Digital Futures Work Experience Programme, in partnership with Aston University and funded by DSIT. Our mission is to redefine work experience for young people who are too often overlooked, by building digital-first, employer-led pathways that are relevant, inclusive, and future-ready.
"Working with pilot partners including BMet College, Cabot Learning Federation, and the Fathers' Development Foundation, we're embedding the programme across schools, colleges, and NEET communities to ensure it meets the needs of those furthest from opportunity. With Aston University evaluating the impact, this partnership brings together We Job Box's innovation with the university's academic rigour to build an effective scalable model for real systems change."
Liz Lloyd, the UK minister for digital inclusion, said:
"This government is tearing down the barriers to success and making the future work for all, not just the fortunate.
"Being online is something many of us take for granted, but for millions it could mean a new job opportunity, quicker access to healthcare or a lifeline to the local community.
"This fund will both empower community organisations to help those most at risk of being left behind get the skills, access and confidence they need - while also informing how we can help even more people in the future."
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Notes to editors
About Aston University
For over 130 years, Aston University has been making our world a better place through education, research and innovation. Our history is intertwined with the remarkable city of Birmingham, once the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and now the thriving base for an innovation ecosystem of global significance, which Aston is co-creating.
Our vision is to be a leading university for science, technology and enterprise, measured by the positive transformational impact we achieve for our people, students, businesses and the communities we serve.
Aston focuses on high-quality, exploitable research that has an impact on society through medical breakthroughs, advancements in engineering, policy and practice in government, and the strategies and performance of business.
The University offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, as well as continuing professional development solutions.
Thanks to its focus on delivering excellent outcomes for students, Aston University's reputation continues to grow. It was recognised as the Daily Mail University of the Year for Student Success 2025, is second in England for social mobility (2023 HEPI Social Mobility Index), and is top 20 for graduate salaries (2024 Longitudinal Education Outcomes).
Aston University is now defining its place in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.
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Original text here: https://www.aston.ac.uk/latest-news/aston-university-wins-government-funding-offer-digital-skills-training-disadvantaged