University of Strathclyde and New York University join in landmark research and academic partnership

30 June 2014

The University of Strathclyde and New York University have cemented a flagship partnership, paving the way for a range of research and collaboration opportunities.

Signed by John Sexton, President of New York University, and Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, the agreement focuses on five key themes in which the universities share strengths.

The two universities will work together in the fields of:

• Sustainable and future cities
• Biomedical engineering
• Energy and power systems
• Policy development and engagement
• Incubators and innovation

A programme of work will include research, education, and staff and student exchanges. The partnership will enable the universities to apply their expertise to bring together academia and the public and private sectors to help address global challenges in these important areas.

Sir Jim, who holds a Presidential Fellowship from NYU, said: “We are delighted to sign this agreement with New York University – one of the premier education institutions in North America. As leading international universities, we share a determination to tackle critical global research challenges and make an impact on our communities and the wider world. This formal recognition cements our relationship, and it will allow both Strathclyde and NYU to make great strides in these areas. We look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

President John Sexton said: “The NYU community is very excited to launch this new partnership with the University of Strathclyde that offers expanded opportunities for international collaboration and research. We look forward to working with our colleagues in Scotland who share our vision for using applied research to help solve pressing real-world problems. Our agreement also reinforces our commitment to providing students on both sides of the Atlantic with cross-disciplinary, cross-institutional, and cross-cultural opportunities for learning, research, and scholarship.”

The initiative will involve schools across NYU, most notably its Polytechnic School of Engineering, which has identified bioengineering and urban systems among its core areas of study and research. New York University is one of the largest private universities in the United States, with more than 50,000 students and nearly 9,000 academic staff. President Sexton was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Strathclyde in 2013 in recognition of his contribution to education.

Along with Harvard, MIT, and Princeton, NYU is a member of the Association of American Universities – an international organisation of leading research universities devoted to maintaining a strong system of academic research and education.

The partnership announcement comes as Strathclyde celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Royal Charter, which gave it University status. It was named the UK’s Entrepreneurial University of the Year 2013/14 and UK University of the Year 2012/13 by the Times Higher Education magazine.

A recent independent report found Strathclyde’s partnerships with business and industry will contribute £1.4 billion to the economy over the next 10 years, with much of this coming from its industrial centres, including the Technology and Innovation Centre being developed in the heart of Scotland’s largest city.

The partnership provides a framework for pursuing topical collaborative research and education opportunities and highlights partnership work, the application of knowledge, and the importance of working with industry, government, and the non-profit sector.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
1. Established more than 200 years ago ‘for the good of mankind’, the University of Strathclyde is a leading international technological University. It is situated in the heart of Glasgow – one of the UK’s largest cities – and has a vibrant, international community of 22,000 students and more than 3,000 staff from 100 countries. The University’s academics are committed to working with partners to tackle global research challenges in areas including health, energy, manufacturing and the development of future cities. It is recognised internationally for its close links with business, industry, and policy makers. Its high-profile alumni include John Logie Baird, inventor of the television; James Blyth, the wind energy pioneer; David Livingstone, the medical missionary and explorer; and Henry Faulds, originator of fingerprint identification. www.strath.ac.uk

2. Founded in 1831, NYU is one of the world’s foremost research universities and is a member of the selective Association of American Universities. NYU has degree-granting campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai, and has eleven other global academic sites around the world. More NYU students study internationally than any other university, according to the Open Doors Report by the Institute of International Education, and NYU ranks third in the United States for the number of foreign students enrolled. Through its numerous schools and colleges, NYU conducts research and provides education in the arts and sciences, law, medicine, business, dentistry, education, nursing, the cinematic and performing arts, music and studio arts, public administration, engineering, social work, cities, global public health, big data, and continuing and professional studies, among other areas.

3. The NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering dates to 1854, when the NYU School of Civil Engineering and Architecture as well as the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute (widely known as Brooklyn Poly) were founded. Their successor institutions merged in January 2014 to create a comprehensive school of education and research in engineering and applied sciences, rooted in a tradition of invention, innovation and entrepreneurship. In addition to programs at its main campus in downtown Brooklyn, it is closely connected to engineering programs in NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai, and it operates business incubators in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn. engineering.nyu.edu.

Further information:
Kathleen Hamilton
Director, Marketing & Communications
NYU School of Engineering
646.997.3792
kathleen.hamilton@nyu.edu

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