At this year’s Conservative Party Conference, the Education Policy Institute (EPI) has partnered with Sheffield Hallam University to co-host an open fringe panel discussion: ‘In an era of place-based policy, how should universities maximise their civic and community impact?’
The levelling up agenda is often seen as a transfer of resources from one region to another yet there is an important debate over what role existing institutions can play in that agenda, specifically how universities can be engines of levelling up as well as knowledge powerhouses. In this era of place-based policy, where regional growth is a key aspect of the political agenda to achieve equity across the country, how can universities work together with their local networks to promote this agenda and become community assets?
This panel will bring together policy makers, university leaders and civic society stakeholders to examine how universities can be used as an agent to drive positive societal change on both a regional and national level. Conceptualising universities as embedded within their local communities, this discussion will consider how to use this position, both an important responsibility and powerful opportunity, to work with government and other local institutions to achieve regional growth.
We are delighted to welcome Zoë Billingham (IPPR North), Professor Sir Chris Husbands (Sheffield Hallam University), Samuel Kasumu (Former Special Advisor for Civil Society & Communities) and Jonathan Simons (Public First) to the panel.
** Note: This event will take place in the conference secure zone. To access the secure zone you will need to obtain a pass directly from the Conservative Party.**
