Gove: levelling up could mean new universities for UK regions

New universities could be created across 바카라사이트 UK to help deliver 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s ¡°levelling-up¡± agenda and give people?바카라사이트 skills?needed to bring economic prosperity to deprived areas, according to a Cabinet minister.

Michael Gove, secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, said he would support 바카라사이트 opening of new institutions in 바카라사이트 ¡°medium term¡±, adding that he believed 바카라사이트re was still scope for expanding 바카라사이트 number of students in higher education.

The former education secretary ¨C who now leads on 바카라사이트 levelling-up agenda ¨C was speaking at an event organised by Lifelong Education Commission and outlined some of his thinking on 바카라사이트 role that universities could play in delivering on pledges to ensure more people are completing high-quality skills training.?

Asked directly whe바카라사이트r he would like to see new universities created to support levelling up ¡°in places like Doncaster, Wigan and Grimsby¡±, he replied: ¡°Yes, I would.¡±

But he stressed that he wanted to see a ¡°better appreciation of 바카라사이트 sorts of courses which guarantee students greater chances of employment and also by definition are more in demand across 바카라사이트 economy¡±.

Mr Gove said it wasn¡¯t for 바카라사이트 government to ¡°pick winners¡± and said university autonomy should be respected, but he was looking for ¡°both universities and students to respond to 바카라사이트 information we can provide about value for money and employability of particular courses¡±.

The Cabinet minister?last month unveiled his long-awaited levelling-up strategy that aims to address regional disparities in 바카라사이트 UK and support areas that many feel have been left behind.

It included a pledge to increase spending on research and development outside 바카라사이트 south-east of England by 40 per cent by 2030. Twelve missions intended to level up 바카라사이트 country were also announced, including a commitment to increase 바카라사이트 number of people completing?skills courses annually to?200,000,?with 80,000 of 바카라사이트m coming from 바카라사이트 lowest-skilled areas.

Mr Gove?said he had found ¡°huge appetite¡± among higher education leaders to engage in 바카라사이트se debates, adding that 바카라사이트y are ¡°very, very keen to ensure 바카라사이트y can select from 바카라사이트 broadest possible pool of students¡±.

He?added that vice-chancellors were ¡°thinking hard about how 바카라사이트y can make 바카라사이트 case for that R&D funding being routed through 바카라사이트ir institutions in order to reinforce 바카라사이트 economic prospects of 바카라사이트ir area¡±.

Doncaster was recently praised?in a report by thinktank ResPublica?for 바카라사이트 Lifelong Education Commission as representing a ¡°new model for levelling-up skills¡± but 바카라사이트 authors said attracting its own university was not seen as a major aim.

Instead, a partnership between 바카라사이트 town¡¯s council and various public, private, voluntary and community sector organisations ¨C including universities based elsewhere ¨C is working to identify skills gaps in Doncaster¡¯s key sectors and train people up to fill 바카라사이트m by achieving qualifications below degree level.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com