be connected newsletter for higher education - May 2022

In this edition we provide you with the latest in legal updates, news and insight from the higher education sector.

08 May 2022

Welcome to be connected our quarterly update for Higher Education Institutions.

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In this edition we provide you with the latest in legal updates, news and insight from the higher education sector.

Legal updates

Subsidy Control

It has been a turbulent couple of years for those involved in subsidy control. The repeal of the State Aid rules and their replacement means that practitioners and public bodies are having to acclimatise to a new, more flexible but less certain approach.

In the first part of this article, we discussed the application of the Subsidy Control principles, and the exemptions, prohibitions and restrictions contained within the Subsidy Control Bill.

In part two, we look at how streamlined subsidy schemes will be used to grant certain subsidies more quickly, and at the enforcement and transparency provisions of the Bill.

Fraud - why it pays to be vigilant

Financial crime is an increasing threat to all organisations. The modes of facilitating fraud have become easier. Being a victim of fraud as an organisation risks significant financial consequence, but also serious reputational harm and loss of stakeholder confidence.

Don’t let the lights go out – dealing with insolvent energy suppliers

Not a day goes by without a media article referring to the ongoing global energy crisis. There are a number of factors which have contributed to the crisis including the huge increase in wholesale natural gas prices, which have risen some 250% since the start of 2021. Since the start of last year, over 30 energy firms have gone bust in the UK alone.

Creating a profitable future for your IP

Universities have always had an interest in commercialising their intellectual property (IP) and in recent years we have seen a rise in ambition from universities, students and academics. So what do you need to think about if you have the drive to make more of your IP assets?

Harassment and sexual misconduct in Higher Education

Cases involving the handling allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct by universities continue to hit the news. They are clearly difficult issues for universities given the competing duties owed to both the reporting individual and the alleged perpetrator and the inevitable sensitivities around the nature of these matters.

ICO consultation on research provisions guidance

The data protection legislation (namely, the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018) contain various provisions that deal with the processing of personal data for research purposes. In short, these provisions allow personal data to be processed for the following three purposes…

Are spin-ins the new spin-outs?

We’re all familiar with spin-outs. Licensing and patent portfolios are traditional aspects of university commercialisation strategies. However, spin-ins are growing in popularity and are fast becoming an important part of a university’s commercialisation arsenal; but what exactly are they?

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