Universities need recognition as essential to government’s growth plans

Plymouth University and University Alliance has published, ‘Growing the Future: universities leading, changing and creating the regional economy,’ which argues that the government needs to take steps to ensure that universities are central to its growth strategy.

‘Growing the Future’ illustrates, through a series of opinion pieces, that universities have a central role to play in realising the government’s plans for growth. Universities encourage investment, exports and a more balanced economy; create an educated, flexible workforce; and are key to making the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business.

Professor Wendy Purcell, Vice-Chancellor of Plymouth, has written the introduction for the publication in an opinion piece entitled: 'How universities are leading, changing and creating in the regional economy'.

In the piece Professor Purcell says: "By playing a leadership role, changing future patterns of economic growth, creating research-led innovation, building the knowledge workforce and attracting inward investment, universities will surely be central to any successful plan for driving a competitive future economy."

Western Morning News' editor Alan Qualtrough also contributes a piece, in which he analyses the joint Regional Growth Fund application with the University - the only one of its kind in the country to be successful in obtaining funds at stage one.

Libby Hackett, Director of University Alliance said: “The evidence is clear: universities are no longer just part of the education system. They are central to the economic and social prosperity of our nation. As growth figures continue to look worryingly bleak, we urge the Coalition Government to look closely at the role of universities in the second phase of their growth plan.

"We will be discussing new ideas and approaches at party conferences where we are doing fringe events with Vince Cable, David Willetts and other leading commentators.”

Sir Patrick Stewart, actor and Chancellor of University of Huddersfield added: "It goes without saying that unless we teach and train the next generation of experts in every field, from science and technology to arts and humanities, then regional growth will be stopped in its tracks."