Amanda Selvaratnam, Head of Continuing Professional Development, University of York and Director of the Training Gateway

Following a scientific career in research and industry, Amanda moved into business intelligence with Glaxo SmithKline, prior to joining the University of York. At the University of York Amanda established an IT training company to provide business focussed training for local companies.

She is currently the Head of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) at the university responsible for the strategic development of CPD courses across all sectors. Amanda also is responsible for the university employer engagement strategy which covers all the external activities of the university from student placements, industrial research partnerships to consultancy and training.

In 2007 Amanda established The Training Gateway which helps UK and international public and private sector organisations address their skills needs by providing a free single point of contact through which to source corporate, vocational and executive training and educational partnerships from UK universities.

Allowing easy and direct access to over 2500 named coordinators in every UK university and around 80 colleges, the Training Gateway provides the most comprehensive access to university level corporate, vocational and specialist training in the UK.

As well as providing access to training courses, The Training Gateway helps businesses identify universities that can accredit their own in house training programmes, develop bespoke packages and online or work-based learning programmes.

The Training Gateway also works with overseas educational institutions who wish to partner with UK universities and colleges for UK recognition, joint degrees, Foundation degrees, professional training for staff in universities or colleges or other types of educational partnerships including the development of joint programmes.