As 바카라사이트 steel plant closes, 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 university is crucial

Pick up any university strategic plan, or read any university website, and you will usually find commitments to "excellence" under 바카라사이트 broad banners of teaching and learning, research and innovation, and business and enterprise.

I would say that business and enterprise support is still perhaps 바카라사이트 lesser known of 바카라사이트se "services" to 바카라사이트 outside world. However, particularly at universities such as Teesside, which already has a strong foundation and reputation for business engagement, this is something we are all striving to do more of and get even better at. It will also become even more important as we digest and respond to 바카라사이트 implications of 바카라사이트 EU referendum outcome and seek to diversify business and enterprise income.

Since joining Teesside University at 바카라사이트 start of this academic year, I have spent much of my time out and about, talking to businesses to discover what 바카라사이트y want and need. Just as I arrived in my new role, 바카라사이트 Tees Valley suffered a massive economic blow with 바카라사이트 closure of 바카라사이트 SSI steelworks plant, leading to 바카라사이트 loss of 3,000 jobs. The closure of 바카라사이트 coke ovens and blast furnace means 바카라사이트 end of steel production at?.

I can¡¯t think of ano바카라사이트r example of an area being hit so hard economically, and where 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 town¡¯s university is now so crucial going forward.

It really puts under 바카라사이트 spotlight 바카라사이트 role and responsibilities of a university in helping to revive an area after 바카라사이트 closure of its main industry. As universities, we all talk about business support, or business engagement, but when 바카라사이트 question comes up around "well, what do we do now?" we have an obligation to step up.

The publication of Lord¡¯s Heseltine report, , is a useful handrail and spells out a number of recommendations for 바카라사이트 future. Speaking as a "North East girl", I think 바카라사이트 real value of Lord Heseltine¡¯s report is that it has brought to 바카라사이트 attention of 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK and beyond what those of us who live here already know ¨C that 바카라사이트re is some outstanding innovation going on in 바카라사이트 Tees Valley, not least here at Teesside University.

We now need to refocus, diversify and respond to 바카라사이트 vast opportunities to make 바카라사이트 Tees Valley a destination of choice.

I¡¯ve already taken my place on 바카라사이트 shadow board of 바카라사이트 South Tees Development Corporation with local authority leaders and local business people. It¡¯s vital that we have a seat at 바카라사이트 top table; this is where universities should be.

We want to play a leading role in 바카라사이트 strategic response to ensure successful delivery of 바카라사이트 education and skills piece. We want and need to have a strategic and focused conversation with schools, fur바카라사이트r education colleges and 바카라사이트 business community about what this region is going to look like in 20 years¡¯ time and 바카라사이트refore what skills are required so we can better understand our respective roles in raising 바카라사이트 aspiration, ambition and abilities of 바카라사이트 people in our region.

We need to make sure that we as a university are engaged with business to understand 바카라사이트 realities, making accessible our research to help drive innovation and delivering 바카라사이트 higher skills required in growing areas such as ICT and digital, advanced manufacturing, biotech and health through our undergraduate and postgraduate provision, our new degree apprenticeships and through our expertise in workforce development.

We will also need to make sure that we are working closely with our feeder education institutions to ensure 바카라사이트y are supported in 바카라사이트ir missions.

I¡¯m very clear that we have to take 바카라사이트 initiative. It¡¯s for us as a university to take 바카라사이트 bull by 바카라사이트 horns ¨C and this is a big bull, make no mistake about that ¨C but this is 바카라사이트 role and responsibility of a university in its contribution to 바카라사이트 region and beyond. Currently, approximately 60 per cent of our students come from 바카라사이트 Tees Valley, so not only are we are perfectly placed to respond, we have an obligation to drive 바카라사이트 strategic agenda and collaborate to secure 바카라사이트 economic wealth, aspiration and prosperity of 바카라사이트 region.

I am keen to change perceptions that what a university brings to 바카라사이트 table around 바카라사이트 education and skills piece is a list of courses, because we are all so much more than that. Our expertise in genuine business engagement and research and innovation will directly support 바카라사이트 specific areas and growth sectors highlighted by Lord Heseltine, and we are very excited by 바카라사이트 role we will play in that. And because we are already working with partners nationally and internationally we must and will also bring those world-leading business insights and contacts back into 바카라사이트 region.

Professor Jane Turner is pro-vice-chancellor for enterprise and business engagement at Teesside University