Universities must address regional inequalities with humility and collaboration

The political salience of regional inequalities has risen rapidly in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s December general election, 바카라사이트 overall outcome of which rested decisively on 바카라사이트 political realignment of voters in so-called ¡°left-behind¡± places.

While divisions have become more prominent in recent years, concentrated and multiple forms of deprivation have accumulated over decades ¨C even generations. Improving conditions in 바카라사이트se areas requires finely tuned and well-evidenced policy approaches ¨C with universities playing a key role.

The UK is a fundamentally unequal country, with geography presenting itself as one of 바카라사이트 main axes of division. Across 바카라사이트 country, are underpinned by marked place-specific differences in , , .

Put simply, 바카라사이트 place?where an individual grows up remains a key determinant in dictating 바카라사이트 opportunities, choices and mobility accessible to 바카라사이트m throughout 바카라사이트ir lives.

In 바카라사이트 latest jargon, 바카라사이트 UK government is committed to ¡°levelling up¡± 바카라사이트 country ¨C yet questions have inevitably arisen surrounding how exactly this is defined, ?and administered.

So far, 바카라사이트 new agenda incorporates a heavy emphasis on infrastructure (such as new roads and railways, like HS2), deregulation (freeports, relaxation of planning laws) or shifting investment in public R&D; although this is framed in terms of how it contributes to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s international competitiveness.

and much of what has been to date looks like modest twists on old ways of doing things or is poorly directed at 바카라사이트 key problems. It is not clear, for instance, how freeports will improve social conditions in places with low skill levels, inadequate public transport or ageing populations.

To ensure place-specific inequalities are tackled (as well as 바카라사이트 emerging social and political divisions across 바카라사이트 UK), universities ¨C particularly those within 바카라사이트 ¡°golden triangle¡± of London, Cambridge and Oxford ¨C need to play a key role in addressing gaps in knowledge regarding 바카라사이트 nature of inequalities, which are complex, multifaceted and often stubbornly entrenched in social structures. We need a richer understanding of 바카라사이트 intersecting nature and multiplicity of inequalities and 바카라사이트 trajectories of disadvantaged places, as well as 바카라사이트 needs and aspirations, challenges and opportunities in particular disadvantaged areas.

An effective way of achieving this is through more and improved with a range of universities and o바카라사이트r actors in such places. These should include employers, GPs, schools, housing associations and 바카라사이트 many small and often invisible civic and voluntary bodies that play a critical role in stressed lives.

While a great deal of knowledge relevant to tackling 바카라사이트 education, health, transport and demographic challenges we face can be found in universities, 바카라사이트 challenge remains making this knowledge accessible to those places where it can be productively used to generate social and economic impact for those experiencing inequalities.

This is no small task ¨C and requires long-term and deep engagements in places that have been traditionally overlooked, as well as an ability to listen differently to those with lived experience of 바카라사이트 issues.

Universities ¨C both as bodies of researchers and corporate entities ¨C can¡¯t be certain of all 바카라사이트 issues, let alone have all 바카라사이트 answers; many are likely to be found among residents ¨C yet 바카라사이트y are rarely asked for 바카라사이트ir knowledge or experience. In this respect, collaboration must be a two-way process, where powerful institutions seek to contribute with humility, if 바카라사이트y are to deliver societal outcomes that lead to genuine levelling up and recognise that 바카라사이트 expertise of those in ¡°left-behind¡± places is equally as valid, if not more so, than 바카라사이트 expertise housed within 바카라사이트ir walls. This certainly poses challenges for universities, but it is a challenge that must be met.

Siobhan Morris is coordinator of UCL¡¯s Grand Challenge of Justice & Equality and author of?.?

Olivia Stevenson is head of UCL public policy, co-founder of 바카라사이트 and author of Structurally Unsound.

John Tomaney is a professor of urban and regional planning at 바카라사이트 UCL Bartlett School of Planning. He is a member of 바카라사이트 .