At this year’s Conservative Party Conference, the Education Policy Institute has partnered with Sheffield Hallam University to co-host a fringe event on the contribution of higher education to the UK’s economy.
Universities are not just a key part of our education system. They are hubs of research, creativity and talent, they are drivers of innovation, and they are catalysts for economic growth – not just regionally, but nationally.
Building on the government’s Industrial Strategy, it is essential that we put universities, students, and research at the heart of the UK’s economic vision. What can universities provide their communities and regions through strategic interaction with local businesses, job creation, and supply of graduates? What wider role can they play in supporting national prosperity? And against the backdrop of the post-18 education review, what needs to change with the relationship between higher education and further education?
UK universities produce world-leading research and innovation which attracts considerable inward investment – both money and talent. But we need to better integrate our universities into their communities, locally and beyond.
Looking forward, this session will ask, ‘What should universities be doing to help build a sustainable economic future for the UK, – and what support do they need to achieve this?’.
Speakers include: Professor Chris Husbands (Vice Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University); Lord Bob Kerslake (Chair, Peabody Housing Association); Lesley Davies OBE (Principal, Trafford College), Mark Leach (CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Wonkhe). The panel will be chaired by Natalie Perera (Executive Director, Education Policy Institute). Invited speaker: Lucy Allan MP (Education Committee).
** 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.**
