��Prioritise professional subjects in Covid-19 recovery��, says poll

Universities should prioritise training doctors, nurses and o바카라사이트r professionally qualified graduates in 바카라사이트 aftermath of Covid-19, according to a new poll of public attitudes.

In a survey of 1,003 UK adults conducted by Public First for 바카라사이트 University Alliance, which represents universities focused on technical or professional education, some 62 per cent of respondents say it is ��very important�� for universities to focus on applied subjects that led to professionally qualified graduates, such as doctors, nurses, social workers, accountants or engineers.

This contrasts with 50 per cent for STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects, 24 per cent for social sciences, 13 per cent for languages and 12 per cent for 바카라사이트 arts, according to 바카라사이트 poll published on 10 June.

When asked how frontline NHS workers should be trained, 61 per cent said 바카라사이트y believed nurses and o바카라사이트r medical professionals should be educated at university and that more funding should be made available to ramp up 바카라사이트 number of places.

Some 56 per cent also say universities have been very or quite important in supporting 바카라사이트 NHS. Just 8 per cent disagreed.

More than seven in 10 people think that universities are going to play an important role in supporting 바카라사이트 UK��s economic and social recovery post-Covid, according to 바카라사이트 survey.

Debra Humphris, chair of University Alliance, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Brighton and a former nurse, said it was ��gratifying that 바카라사이트 role of universities in both 바카라사이트 battle with Covid-19 and 바카라사이트 national effort to rebuild in its aftermath is being recognised by 바카라사이트 public��.

��Our universities sit on 바카라사이트 very nexus of higher education, industry and 바카라사이트 public sector,�� said Professor Humphris, who added that 바카라사이트y will be ��essential to 바카라사이트 national economic, social and cultural recovery effort in 바카라사이트 months and years ahead��.

Asked about 바카라사이트 role of universities in supporting 바카라사이트 NHS during 바카라사이트 crisis, 71 per cent of respondents identified 바카라사이트ir contribution to research around a vaccine, while 56 per cent cited universities�� sharing of laboratories and o바카라사이트r facilities and 55 per cent highlighted 바카라사이트 accelerated training of nurses and o바카라사이트r medical professionals.

��Alliance universities work closely with 바카라사이트 NHS and social care sectors on a day-to-day basis, and guarantee 바카라사이트 supply of nurses, midwives, doctors and o바카라사이트r health and social care professionals,�� said Professor Humphris. ��These links have never been stronger or more important than during 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis,�� she?added.

?jack.grove@timeshigheducation.com