Co-ops now pay dividends

Universities in the Northeast of England are collaborating on projects in order to obtain an international profile. Joint ventures offer a number of advantages, such as lowering research costs and removing competition. Universities are interdependent on their locality, but vice chancellors of some universities, such as Leeds Metropolitan University, believe regionality should not automatically lead to collaboration as other universities could prove better partners. National funding councils should not focus on regional funding while promoting regional co-operation, say some vice chancellors.