Aimed at professionals, policymakers, academics and students, the centre will bring together experts from the School of Social Sciences and Cass Business School to produce research, to enhance knowledge transfer and offer advice to private, public and third-sector organisations about work-related issues.
The centre will work with businesses to shape new thinking and develop evidence-based solutions on: leadership, performance, wellbeing at work and talent management. It will also host PhDs, internships, run seminars and influence government policy.
An experienced advisory board will help to direct the centre and will include: Richard Williams, chief occupational psychologist at the Home Office; Christina Dykes, specialist in political leadership and former director of candidates and development for the Conservative Party; Rosalind Searle, senior lecturer in occupational psychology at the Open University; and Douglas Board, deputy chairman of executive search firm Saxton Bampfylde.
Jo Silvester, director of the Centre for Performance at Work, said: "Securing and maintaining a highly productive and healthy workforce is a major concern for every business as they recover from the recession.
"Through innovative research and practice, the centre will focus on the factors that influence employees' performance in fast-paced, global workplaces to help all types of organisations achieve optimal levels of performance."
In line with the centre's commitment to improving work performance, a Masters in international business psychology will be launched in September 2011.
The new course will be aimed at professionals with managerial or policy-making experience relevant to work psychology, organisational behaviour and human resource management. It will help participants develop the theoretical and practical expertise necessary to deal with key human resource challenges and opportunities at an international level.
