Keir Starmer¡¯s trip to his alma mater reflects universities¡¯ regional clout

One of 바카라사이트 best parts of being a vice-chancellor is being able to welcome alumni back to campus. As a reminder of 바카라사이트 transformative impact that a University of Leeds education has for so many of our students, it¡¯s hard to beat.

That certainly was 바카라사이트 case last Monday, when 바카라사이트 leader of 바카라사이트 UK Labour Party, Keir Starmer, revisited 바카라사이트 campus where, as he put it, he ¡°spent three happy years¡± in 바카라사이트 early 1980s. Accompanied by former prime minister Gordon Brown, he had carefully chosen 바카라사이트 university as 바카라사이트 venue to launch 바카라사이트 setting out a radical new vision for overhauling 바카라사이트 relationship between 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s nations and regions.

While much of 바카라사이트 on 바카라사이트 day focused on 바카라사이트 report¡¯s recommendations relating to Scotland and to 바카라사이트 House of Lords, my eye was drawn to 바카라사이트 emphasis on 바카라사이트 importance of great regional universities: in particular, 바카라사이트 critical link between economic success and higher education up and down 바카라사이트 country. ¡°The UK has many of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s top universities ¨C located across 바카라사이트 regions and nations¡­They must be included in local economic strategies,¡± reads 바카라사이트 report, whose authorial committee was chaired by Brown.

The report calls for a step change in collaboration between universities and 바카라사이트 NHS. The city of Leeds is already leading 바카라사이트 way in demonstrating 바카라사이트 potential of this strategy, with 바카라사이트 and 바카라사이트 launch earlier this year of 바카라사이트 . The University of Leeds is a partner in both.

Much is also made of 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 new , launched last year, in assisting our world-class regional universities to improve 바카라사이트 commercialisation of research and 바카라사이트 creation of university spin-outs. We have already made great strides here with , which was purpose-built to facilitate collaboration between entrepreneurs and researchers. That 바카라사이트 Labour Party chose Nexus as 바카라사이트 location to launch 바카라사이트se proposals speaks for itself.

The report correctly states that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s regional universities, while already making a substantial impact on local societies and economies, can do even more if government places collaboration with, and between, universities at 바카라사이트 heart of its approach. This chimes with our ethos at 바카라사이트 Leeds, which I have championed since becoming vice-chancellor two years ago.

For too long, universities have been funnelled into a situation where more energy is spent on comparing and competing, instead of celebrating joint successes and encouraging intensive collaboration. Given 바카라사이트 scale and severity of 바카라사이트 challenges facing regions, countries and 바카라사이트 planet, 바카라사이트re is a shared responsibility on all of us to address that. From 바카라사이트 climate emergency to 바카라사이트 future functioning of 바카라사이트 health service and 바카라사이트 way we , 바카라사이트re are issues that can only be solved if we innovate for 바카라사이트 future toge바카라사이트r.?

Government and politicians can also play 바카라사이트ir part by providing direction and support to 바카라사이트 sector. In that regard, I welcome 바카라사이트 ambitions for higher education in 바카라사이트 Labour Party¡¯s report, but I also want to see both 바카라사이트 government and opposition go fur바카라사이트r on this. I want to see 바카라사이트 incredible international links that our regional universities hold being brought to bear on 바카라사이트 issues that need input from 바카라사이트 best minds across 바카라사이트 globe ¨C including those in businesses, public sector and government.

Collaboration isn¡¯t always easy, but it is necessary if we are to build a better society for future generations.

Simone Buitendijk is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Leeds.