Partner Article

Universities key to strong economic future

A new report is encouraging the Government to place universities at the centre of plans to promote economic growth.

Professor Tom Wilson, former vice-chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire and HEFCE board member was asked by the Government to consider how universities can work with businesses to ensure students meet the needs of the workplace.

His findings indicated that the UK has the potential to be a world leader in university-business collaboration, building on the diversity of collaborative networks, partnerships and supply chains that already exist.

Professor Wilson commented: “The key to success is on-going cultural change, strengthening and extending the relationships between business and universities.

“To achieve this; belief, commitment and leadership amongst universities, business and government is essential.

“If this potential is fulfilled, universities will be at the heart of our knowledge-based economy, collaborating with business and government to generate the wealth necessary for a healthy and prosperous society.”

Laura Wood, director of academic enterprise at Teesside University, said: “We strongly endorse the Wilson Report, as it recognises the fundamental relationship between business and the university.

“One of the initiatives we run is to get students to think and behave in entrepreneurial ways, and whether they go on to set up businesses, this can be valuable.”

The report recommends that universities focus on producing graduates with knowledge relevant to their future careers, ensuring that there is a constant interchange of research, ideas and people between academe and business.

Universities should also consider working closely with Local Enterprise Partnerships and government agencies to attract inward investment whist also identifying areas of future knowledge and capability creation.

Commenting on the findings, universities and science minister David Willetts said: “Sir Tim’s review has identified a number of examples of how collaboration can work in the real world and the good practice that already exists.

“I’d now like to see this best practice spread more widely within and across universities, businesses, industry sectors and local areas.

“Sir Tim has produced a comprehensive and timely report. The challenge now is for universities and businesses - with government - to work together to drive forward these recommendations to ensure the long term world class competitiveness of our economy.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .