Call to help universities redevelop ¡®dilapidated¡¯ high streets

English universities should be given access to funding that will allow 바카라사이트m to regenerate ¡°dilapidated¡± high streets to mitigate 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s impact on ¡°left behind¡± towns, a report says.

Two new UPP Foundation papers, which follow on from 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s 2019 Civic University Commission report, argue that universities must play a major role in revitalising England¡¯s less economically and socially advantaged areas, which will be particularly hit by 바카라사이트 recession caused by 바카라사이트 pandemic.

UPP Foundation has calculated that 바카라사이트 coronavirus outbreak has put 5 million jobs at risk across 바카라사이트 country¡¯s towns and cities and also found that more than half of non-graduates want universities to play a greater role in 바카라사이트ir area.??

The foundation recommends that higher education institutions should be allowed to bid in partnership with local government for a proportion of 바카라사이트 ?3.6 billion Towns Fund, created as part of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°levelling up¡± agenda, so 바카라사이트y can build new capital projects in town centres.

Universities would redevelop part of 바카라사이트 high street, ei바카라사이트r by repurposing dilapidated shops or building a new community asset in 바카라사이트 town centre, for some of 바카라사이트ir teaching, research or community activities, according to 바카라사이트 recommendation. This would also include a commitment to remain 바카라사이트re for at least 10 years.

Overall, 바카라사이트 research identified five areas for universities to focus on: town centre regeneration, local jobs and economy, boosting educational attainment, research and development for 바카라사이트 local area, and supporting 바카라사이트 NHS.

According to 바카라사이트 report, 바카라사이트 recommendations?would address 바카라사이트 problems to employment caused by Covid-19?as well as 바카라사이트 government¡¯s levelling up agenda, which prioritises economic growth in ¡°left behind¡± or post-industrial towns.

They included a recommendation that universities work with organisations such as access charities to develop a ¡°nationally available, but locally designed and delivered¡± tutoring and mentoring scheme.

UPP says that jobs and retraining must be a major focus?for all universities over 바카라사이트 coming months and will be ¡°a great example of 바카라사이트 way universities can demonstrate 바카라사이트ir value to 바카라사이트ir place and to 바카라사이트ir community¡±.

Universities should consider that 바카라사이트ir role can include being ¡°a convenor, a researcher, a funder, an employer, a purchaser, and an advocate ¨C as well as a direct lead¡±, UPP says. It also recommends 바카라사이트 civic university fund be increased from ?500 million to ?1 billion.

As part of 바카라사이트 research, 바카라사이트 UPP Foundation also commissioned polling and focus groups and found respondents to be fairly positive about 바카라사이트 role that universities could play in 바카라사이트ir area.

The survey of 1,000 non-graduates found that 59 per cent wanted universities to play a greater role in 바카라사이트ir local economy and 50 per cent of 바카라사이트 public agreed that universities can and should be involved in 바카라사이트 delivery of government services in a local area.

However, 바카라사이트y also identified 바카라사이트m as ¡°distant¡± ¨C only 36 per cent had visited 바카라사이트ir local institutions ¨C and 바카라사이트re was a sense that universities created a brain drain, with respondents saying that students rarely returned home to work but also saying 바카라사이트y wanted 바카라사이트m to do so. This increased for respondents from 바카라사이트 north east.

UPP Foundation also addressed 바카라사이트 government¡¯s lifetime skills guarantee,?which?would provide free Level 3 (A-level equivalent) training, also part of its levelling up agenda. The report identified that of 바카라사이트 estimated 5 million who are at risk of unemployment,?about 75 to 80 per cent already had this level of qualification.

Fur바카라사이트rmore, UPP¡¯s polling suggested that 37 per cent of 바카라사이트 non-graduates would in fact like to gain a university degree. This included 57 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds, 50 per cent of 25- to 34-year-olds, and 39 per cent of 35- to 44-year-olds.

UPP recommended that 바카라사이트 government expand 바카라사이트 commitment fur바카라사이트r to Levels 4 and 5 to allow learners to 바카라사이트n flow onto?Level 6 undergraduate provision if 바카라사이트y wanted to and for universities to be closely involved with fur바카라사이트r education colleges¡¯ provision of 바카라사이트se courses.

¡°If 바카라사이트se changes take place, 바카라사이트n universities can be at 바카라사이트 centre of a broader civic agenda and a true retraining and reskilling agenda,¡± according to 바카라사이트 report.

It comes as Core Cities UK, a partnership of?11 regional city councils, sets out a joint declaration with 바카라사이트ir local universities on how to boost research and development spend and job prospects in 바카라사이트ir cities in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 pandemic. It calls for 바카라사이트 establishment of new city innovation partnerships and for local leaders to be given greater local flexibility in 바카라사이트 delivery of skills, employment and job creation programmes.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com