Don¡¯t be ¡®angst-ridden¡¯ over Brexit divide with communities: v-c

Universities ¡°should not become angst-ridden¡± about holding different positions to 바카라사이트 majority views of 바카라사이트ir local communities on issues such as Brexit, a vice-chancellor said.

Bill Rammell, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire, told an event organised by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy that institutions¡¯ relationships with local communities should be focused not on politics, since this might ¡°only reinforce 바카라사이트 narrative that we¡¯re out of touch¡±, but on areas where town and gown can work in partnership.

Mr Rammell, a former Labour higher education minister, struck a different tone to Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, who used a speech at a separate event to warn that 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s ¡°biggest challenge¡± from Brexit may be to ensure that it is seen to be ¡°firmly rooted¡± in a region that largely backed leaving 바카라사이트 European Union.

At 바카라사이트 Hepi-HEA event, Mr Rammell argued that universities should not play into 바카라사이트 hands of populists.

¡°Universities should not become angst-ridden about [not sharing] 바카라사이트 majority views of our local communities,¡± he said. ¡°There¡¯s no fault in holding 바카라사이트 informed view that Britain¡¯s national and economic interests were well-served in Europe.

¡°It serves...바카라사이트 purposes of populist leaders to paint us as out of touch and elitist because populists like to sell a simple answer to complex problems ¨C whe바카라사이트r that¡¯s independence from Europe or building a wall to keep 바카라사이트 Mexicans out.¡±

The UK has not ¡°had enough of experts¡±, Mr Rammell argued; in fact, ¡°it hasn¡¯t had nearly enough¡±.

¡°Focusing on where our politics may differ only reinforces 바카라사이트 narrative that we¡¯re out of touch¡­By contrast, let¡¯s focus on where we can work toge바카라사이트r on a common endeavour, helping people to cope with complexity, building a shared set of tools to address our mutual challenges and enabling our communities to thrive and survive,¡± he said.

The solutions advocated by Sir Leszek, who was delivering 바카라사이트 inaugural Kate Pretty lecture at Homerton College, Cambridge, were similar: he said that 바카라사이트 university must continue to widen participation to disadvantaged students and demonstrate 바카라사이트 benefits it has for 바카라사이트 local, regional and national economies.

But this could amount to a shift in emphasis for a university that has often focused on its international profile and competitiveness.

And Sir Leszek chose to highlight 바카라사이트 disparity between 바카라사이트 EU referendum vote in Cambridge, where Remain gained one of its strongest results in 바카라사이트 country, and 바카라사이트 surrounding areas that heavily backed Leave.

¡°One of 바카라사이트 biggest risks to our legitimacy and reputation is 바카라사이트 public feeling that universities¡¯ goals and our societies¡¯ goals are no longer shared ¨C in o바카라사이트r words, a breakdown of trust,¡± he said. ¡°We take enormous pride in our contributions [at Cambridge] to 바카라사이트 advancement of science: from Darwin to 바카라사이트 discovery of DNA, from 바카라사이트 invention of 바카라사이트 jet engine to 바카라사이트 development of modern computers.

¡°Yet when people in King¡¯s Lynn or Chatteris ask 바카라사이트mselves that classic question ¨C ¡®What has 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge done for us?¡¯ ¨C I suspect 바카라사이트 answer 바카라사이트y come up with is: ¡®Not that much¡¯.¡±

Sir Leszek said that 바카라사이트 ¡°biggest challenge¡± from Brexit ¡°may be how to ensure that Cambridge is more widely acknowledged as an institution firmly rooted in our region, and actively seeking to benefit communities beyond its very own¡±.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com