A new report is
predicting that thousands of jobs, new businesses, and prosperity
will be created across the UK through university collaborations
with employers, local government, and other partners.
Today's report – 'Universities and the UK's
economic recovery: an analysis of future impact' – written by
the National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE) and
published by Universities UK, predicts that over the next five
years UK universities will provide:
- £11.6 billion worth of support and services to small
enterprises, businesses, and not-for-profits.
- 21,700 new companies and charities will be started because of
universities.
- 191,000 nurses, 84,000 medical specialists and 188,000
teachers will be trained at UK universities.
- £21.7 billion (estimated value) of research collaboration
between universities in the UK and non-academic organisations.
It comes as UUK launches #GettingResults – a campaign to put
universities at the heart of the economic and social recovery –
with a renewed commitment from universities to do even more to
reach out to new partners locally and nationally and deliver even
greater impact than currently estimated.
As part of the campaign, universities will develop a series of
pledges and partnership agreements with leading employers and
bodies representing sectors with strategic importance to the
nation's economic and social recovery. These will outline the
role that universities can play supporting business and other
partners, identify where these partnerships can be improved, and
encourage increased collaboration to benefit society and level up
opportunities.
This work is being overseen by a newly created Universities UK
Economic and Social Taskforce, which is led by Professor
, Vice-Chancellor
of Newcastle University, and a board member of Universities
UK.
Professor said:
"Universities are at the heart of the nation's recovery from the
pandemic. Over the past year we have seen first-hand what can be
achieved through strong collaboration between our universities
and their partners. Now universities want to do more, to help the
UK to bounce back stronger, with opportunity and prosperity
spread across the country. We are looking to form strategic
partnerships with employers and sector bodies throughout the UK
to strengthen collaboration between universities and their
partners."
Lord Karan Bilimoria, President of the Confederation of
British Industry (CBI), said:
"At the CBI we are proud that the United Kingdom has one of the
finest higher education sectors in the world, one that should
never be taken for granted by the government and the public."
"Following the challenges that have been faced throughout this
pandemic, 2021 must be a turning point for the UK, and
universities have a key role within research, skills and
innovation which is going to drive the UK to build forward
better.”
"We must now think in the long term and of the future
opportunities the sector can bring and ensure universities are
given the recognition and prominence they deserve.”
Minister of State for Universities, , said:
"Our universities play a vital role in their local communities,
through creating levelling up opportunities, boosting the
economy, and training up some of the brilliant talent this
country has to offer."
"I encourage universities to join this movement, deepen their
ties with local communities, and solidify their position as the
engines of regional growth that this nation needs to build back
better, and fairer from the pandemic."
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for
Science, Research and Innovation), , said:
"The immense contribution of UK universities to our economy and
local communities cannot be underestimated."
"Partnerships between these world-leading institutions and UK
businesses are crucial to our economic recovery and the Getting
Results campaign will play an important part in helping us to
build back better from the pandemic."
Professor Julia Buckingham CBE, President of Universities
UK, said:
"By working together with their partners, including local
government and employers, universities will play a vital role in
the next chapter of our country's history. This report shows that
university partnerships can contribute significantly to future
economic success and improve lives across the UK. With the right
kind of support and a stable funding environment, this growth and
impact could be even faster and stronger than the report
estimates."
ENDS
Notes
- The report 'Universities and the
UK's economic recovery: an analysis of future impact' was
compiled by James Ransom, Head of Research at the National
Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE). It is based on
Higher Education Statistics Agency, ONS, and Innovate UK data.
