Spirited academics needed to fill 'white space'

Coventry University wants to recruit 15 academics with "ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit" to help shape several courses it plans to launch next year.

In this week's Times Higher , the institution is seeking readers, professors and lecturers to help strengthen its presence in areas such as creative computing, logistics, criminology, forensics, lifestyle management, e-learning and fashion.

Those appointed would play a key role in shaping the courses, said Madeleine Atkins, Coventry's vice-chancellor.

The point was to bring the new academics in ahead of the next cohort of students to inject new insights, she said. "Their focus in the first year will be to develop programmes in these new fields. They will also have time to make contacts with businesses in the region."

According to Professor Atkins, these "white space" courses are in areas in which there is no provision although there is rising student and regional demand and government agencies have designated them critical shortage subjects.

Creative computing, logistics and lifestyle management were vital to the region, she said. South Warwickshire boasts a large cluster of digital games companies, and the Midlands has several logistics firms and consultancies.

Lifestyle management will train students to help people stay well rather than focusing on coping with illness. "These are people who will be helping all of us to stay well longer. Every GP practice will have lifestyle management professionals working as part of the team," Professor Atkins said. The course has the support of the Department of Health and other bodies, and it fits with Coventry's existing allied health courses.

The university is going through a £12 million revamp, which includes cutting wages by 10 per cent. "This (recruitment) is the positive part of the reshaping exercise," Professor Atkins said.

Another recruitment round for seven new posts is planned for September.