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University signs partnership agreement with local NHS trust

The University has formalised its close links with a local NHS trust by entering into a partnership agreement to collaborate on teaching and research.

VC and NHS signing Memorandum of AgreementLisa Rodrigues, Chief Executive of the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and Professor Michael Farthing, Vice-Chancellor, sign a Memorandum of Agreement

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed on 25 November with the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which provides specialist mental-health, substance-misuse and learning-disability services. 

The new agreement provides for the development of joint teaching programmes. Current developments include two postgraduate degrees, the research-orientated MSc in Clinical Psychology and Mental Health and the new MSc in Psychological Therapy. 

As part of the agreement, the University and the Trust will also encourage and develop appropriate research partnerships between individuals and groups. 

The two organisations have already been successful in gaining joint research funding through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to find new ways for families to deal with anxiety problems. 

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, said: “We want to work in partnership with the best organisations in the region to achieve common goals and deliver mutual benefit. 

“This new agreement with the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is a statement of our intent to co-operate in areas of benefit to both institutions. Together, our aim is to promote beneficial outcomes for education and health care in the south-east.” 

Lisa Rodrigues, Chief Executive of the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, added: “Sussex Partnership is already a teaching trust of the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, with whom we work closely on medical education and research. 

“We want people who use our services to have confidence that the care they receive is based on the best available evidence. A strong research culture demonstrates our commitment to learning and improving what we do.”