CANTERBURY Christ Church University College is building on its ties with local firms by appointing a business school head to spearhead knowledge transfer.

Professor Janet Druker, an expert on small and medium sized enterprises, is moving from the University of East London Business school to take up the new role of assistant principal in charge of knowledge transfer.

Prof Druker, who starts in April, will also be responsible for research, consultancy services, and links with regional partners, as well as preparation of a crucial submission for the national Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) that assesses research quality and helps determine how public money is invested in higher education research.

She will lead the Centre for Enterprise and Business Development (CEBD) which has established a growing reputation for working with a wide range of local businesses. It operates a Small Business Forum, Business Skills On-Line (an e-learning programme), language training, translation and grant-finder services.

Prof Druker is a professor of human resource management and has a PhD from the University of Warwick. She previously worked at the Universities of Greenwich and Warwick.

She has also undertaken research and consulting services for the Department of Health, the Low Pay Commission, the Construction Industry Training Board, the French Construction Ministry, Skills for the Millennium, the London East Training and Enterprise Council and other business organisations.

She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, global vice-president of the International Employment Relations Association, and on the editorial boards of Human Resource Management Journal and Employment Relations Record.

Prof Druker said: "It is a privilege to join the team at Canterbury Christ Church University College. I look forward to working in collaboration with local businesses and the community in Kent to support economic growth, regeneration and innovation."