million+ welcomes Lord Mandelson's comments on the role of universities
Responding to a visit to Aston University by Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for the newly created Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of the university think-tank million+, said “Lord Mandelson’s visit and speech are a welcome signal that he recognises the significance of universities both to the UK’s economy and to society. Universities throughout the country have been engine drivers of innovation and social mobility including in regions where there have been major changes in the industrial landscape well before the recession.
The teaching, research, knowledge transfer activities and the international partnerships of the UK’s universities must be seen as an asset in a Department which includes responsibilities for a wider strategic agenda. The early acknowledgement of the central role which universities play in social cohesion and innovation in the private and public sectors has to be a good beginning.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- million+ is a university think tank working to solve the complex problems in higher education
- For more information please contact Gemma Tumelty, Public Affairs Officer on 0207 7171657 or 07900 277819.