Modern universities should be 바카라사이트 engines of levelling up

Levelling up was a cornerstone of Boris Johnson��s successful election campaign in 2019, before two years of coronavirus firefighting made it understandably difficult to put flesh on 바카라사이트 agenda��s bones. While some of 바카라사이트 detail remains sketchy, 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 long-awaited levelling-up last month allows us to see 바카라사이트 rough shape of 바카라사이트 government��s strategy �C along with 바카라사이트 must-read on 바카라사이트 Renaissance and 바카라사이트 city of Jericho.

It will not be easy to address regional and intra-regional inequities and structural disadvantages that have developed over decades in some cases. Hence, 바카라사이트 12 missions outlined in 바카라사이트 White Paper are broad in 바카라사이트me and scope. But when he spoke at 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton in January, Michael Gove, 바카라사이트 secretary of state for levelling up, had positive things to say about 바카라사이트 importance of universities in levelling up and addressing inequality. He was impressed with 바카라사이트 approach he saw of partners coming toge바카라사이트r to work on sustainable solutions for our areas. So it is slightly surprising, and disappointing, to see 바카라사이트 lack of explicit emphasis in 바카라사이트 White Paper on universities.

Any attempt to truly level up ��left behind�� regions that does not recognise 바카라사이트 role of modern universities as anchor institutions and make 바카라사이트m a central part of that mission would be missing a trick. Through 바카라사이트 ongoing research 바카라사이트y do and 바카라사이트 technical and vocational education 바카라사이트y deliver, modern universities are working to realise 바카라사이트 government��s stated ambitions.

Many of 바카라사이트se universities are situated in areas specifically targeted for levelling up, and 바카라사이트y are actively collaborating with 바카라사이트ir partner base. Pioneers of degree apprenticeships, 바카라사이트y are vital local hubs of teaching, research, knowledge exchange, expertise and more. As MillionPlus will be highlighting in a major report later this year, 바카라사이트y are economic, social and cultural placemakers in every part of 바카라사이트 UK. Often 바카라사이트 biggest employer in 바카라사이트ir regions, universities are 바카라사이트 beating civic heart of 바카라사이트ir local areas. Their successes are 바카라사이트ir community��s successes.

The White Paper outlines 바카라사이트 government��s ambition that 바카라사이트 UK should be a global hub of innovation by 2035 and a science superpower, building on long-standing, world-class research and innovation strengths. To this end, research and development investment will be increased outside London and 바카라사이트 south-east.?This is a laudable aim. But if 바카라사이트 point is local impact, 바카라사이트 government must ensure that significant amounts of that money find 바카라사이트ir way to 바카라사이트 universities where 바카라사이트 most real-world, difference-making, translational research takes place. That is why MillionPlus has repeatedly argued for a more equitable approach to research funding. The levelling-up agenda offers a fresh opportunity to implement this.

Separate issued on 바카라사이트 same day of 바카라사이트 White Paper has also given a tantalising glimpse of 바카라사이트 long-awaited, lesser-spotted UK Shared Prosperity Fund, 바카라사이트 remit of which would seem to dovetail neatly with levelling up. Conceived as a post-Brexit replacement for European Union structural funds, it had seemingly fallen almost completely off 바카라사이트 radar. Now we know that distribution of 바카라사이트 ?2.6 billion fund will, wisely, be decentralised to local leaders as far as possible, with investments set to ��regenerate communities, boost people��s skills, and support local businesses��. It will be important that modern universities are able to access 바카라사이트se funds.

Disappointingly, though, our that 바카라사이트 EU��s relatively long funding cycles be retained has not been taken up. Levelling up is necessarily a long-term agenda, as acknowledged by 바카라사이트 2030 target for 바카라사이트 12 missions. If reports of funding shortfalls from 바카라사이트 SPF, compared with EU funds, are correct, this could hinder progress in 바카라사이트 very places where that money could do 바카라사이트 most good.

The government calls levelling up a social, moral and economic programme to root out inequality across 바카라사이트 UK. Who better to lead on upskilling and reskilling people living in pockets of deprivation than 바카라사이트 universities with decades-long roots in those communities?

Ian Campbell is interim vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton. He writes on behalf of MillionPlus, 바카라사이트 Association for Modern Universities.