The new president of Universities UK will this week use his
inaugural speech to emphasise the central role that universities
can play in the post pandemic recovery of communities and the
economy, but will issue a stark reminder to government that the
wrong policy decisions could derail these efforts.
As the economy rebuilds from the impact of Covid, a supply of
highly educated and skilled people will be essential to business,
public services and communities alike. Professor Steve West CBE
will emphasise how policy and funding which creates the
conditions for universities to flourish can help ensure anyone
with the potential to succeed at university can do so, in turn
benefiting the economy and wider society.
But Professor West – Vice-Chancellor of the University of the
West of England Bristol - will also caution against political
decisions in the months ahead that would constrain the
government’s levelling up agenda.
Speaking on Thursday (9 September) at the Universities UK annual
conference – the first time the higher education sector has
gathered in 18 months – he will call on government to be brave
and bold in the forthcoming comprehensive spending review,
saying:
"The stakes are high. The right policy decisions can ensure that
anyone with the potential and ability to succeed at university
can do so and deliver the supply of talented, highly educated,
skilled people that business, public services, and communities
need. But the wrong decisions may constrain, damage and set back
the very towns, cities, and regions that the government most
wants to level up, slowing our recovery and delaying our push
towards an inclusive, prosperous global Britain."
Professor West will touch upon the future of learning in the
post-Covid era. Saying that “coronavirus has ripped up the
playbook” he urged the sector and government to take shared
responsibility for the opportunity to write a new chapter for
higher education.
Highlighting student feedback on the advantages of some digital
developments alongside the desire for an in-person learning
experience, he will add:
“In education – as in all other areas of our lives – we must not
simply revert to how things were before.”
Universities are working hard on their plans for the start of
term to safely welcome staff and students back to campus, where
they will benefit from the opportunity to have a wide variety of
in-person contact and activities once more.
Professor West’s speech will give a strong message to students,
their parents and government that universities are ready to do
this safely and securely, working closely with local NHS and
public health partners.
Efforts to strongly encourage students to get vaccinated without
delay are a critical priority for universities. With vaccine
hesitancy very low among the student age group, promoting uptake
and making it as easy as possible to get a jab is the key focus.
Universities are using incentive schemes, student ambassadors and
a range of direct communications to emphasize the huge importance
of this to students. In partnership with the NHS, pop-up
vaccinations clinics and vaccination buses will be in place for
students at the start of term to get their second jab, along with
local walk-in centres, GPs and pharmacies.
On behalf of the 140 universities UUK represents, Professor West
will say to students and staff alike as the return to campus
begins:
“We pledge to them that we are doing all we can to give them the
university and life experiences they want and deserve. It is a
transformative period of their lives and we owe it to them to
deliver the best opportunities we can.”
