The Marchmont Observatory (UK)

The Marchmont Observatory at the University of Exeter is a research centre within the University’s Research & Knowledge Transfer department. It was founded in 1998 to identify and support the uptake of effective employment and learning practice. Since that time, the Marchmont Observatory has provided research and analysis to support the implementation of employment and skills policies among small and medium sized enterprises, and has worked with European programmes to develop innovative approaches to workforce development and social inclusion. Over the last fifteen years Marchmont has developed expertise in comparative European research on employment and training related policy and practice through participation in projects funded via EQUAL, the Lifelong Learning Programme, PROGRESS, 7 th Framework & other EU programmes. The aim of the Marchmont Observatory is to improve evidence-based practice and policy in the field of employment and skills.

The University of Exeter is the leading research-led university in the South West peninsular of the UK and was recognised by the prestigious invitation in 2012 to join the Russell Group of research-intensive UK universities. With a turnover of over £200 million, it has 17,500 registered students and over 3,000 staff. In the 2008 UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) Exeter had one of the highest proportions of staff returned (95%) with nearly 90% of its research rated as being at internationally recognised levels. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings lists Exeter as one of the top 200 universities in the world.

Contact: Dr Andrew Dean, E-Mail
http://www.marchmont.ac.uk