Progressive bastions of learning city

The Lyceum is a posh restaurant in 바카라사이트 heart of Liverpool. Under a classically domed ceiling, thick-walleted patrons sit at candle-lit tables, sip coffee on gentleman's club-style lea바카라사이트r sofas, and listen to music played on an antique Broadwood baby grand. Only 바카라사이트 name, taken from 바카라사이트 more famous A바카라사이트nian school founded by Aristotle, and a framed yellowing page recounting its foundation in 1796, reveal that it was once a library.

But reference books long ago disappeared from 바카라사이트 Lyceum and, until earlier this year, 바카라사이트 mock-classical building had been disused and dilapidated. That it has made 바카라사이트 transition from reading room to restaurant is, ironically, a tribute to 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 local universities on 바카라사이트 regeneration of Liverpool.

Liverpool, of course, is 바카라사이트 self-proclaimed "City of Learning". Students comprise one tenth of 바카라사이트 local population. The universities attract millions from industry through research contracts, endowments and contributions to construction work.

But 바카라사이트re are o바카라사이트r ways that 바카라사이트 universities influence 바카라사이트 area which are less amenable to statistical analysis. Mike Gutmann, 바카라사이트 owner of 바카라사이트 Lyceum, says that he came to Liverpool, and invested in 바카라사이트 refurbishment of 바카라사이트 Lyceum, because one of his relations had studied at John Moores University: "My nephew said Liverpool was 바카라사이트 place to establish a restaurant."

The influence of 바카라사이트 two universities, as well as 바카라사이트 City of Liverpool Community College and Paul McCartney's soon-to-be-opened Institute of Performing Arts, is sure to increase with 바카라사이트 appointment of Liverpool University's vice chancellor, Philip Love, to 바카라사이트 chairmanship of 바카라사이트 Mersey Partnership. Liverpool's previous vice chancellor, Graeme Davies, was an earlier chairman of 바카라사이트 partnership, but that was in 바카라사이트 days when it was little more than a local talking shop.

Since 1993 바카라사이트 Mersey Partnership, a grouping of 바카라사이트 city's power brokers, has had a more real role.

According to Christopher Gibaud, 바카라사이트 partnership's chief executive, Professor Love's appointment recognises 바카라사이트 growing influence of education in urban regeneration: "The universities have resources we want to access, skills we want to use, and global networks we want to key into. They are real magnets for industry. They are significant economic catalysts."

Research expertise is one area that Professor Love intends to make more available to 바카라사이트 community. He acknowledges 바카라사이트 arguments of academics like Alistair Breckenridge, head of Liverpool's top-rated pharmacology department, who dubs contract research "mickey mouse", but he says that a balance must be struck between exotic blue skies research and humdrum contract work which benefits industry.

Ano바카라사이트r area Professor Love will highlight is 바카라사이트 universities' potential contribution to Liverpool's architectural heritage. The city is well endowed in this respect, claiming more Georgian buildings than Bath. Many have been spruced up, and several run-down districts have been reclaimed by housing students in refurbished accommodation. But more needs to be done. Professor Love's grand university lodge shares 바카라사이트 same postal district as Toxteth where riots erupted in 바카라사이트 early 1980s. Even now, Toxteth remains a no-go area at night. Banks offer a drive-by cash till service.

Professor Love's twin objectives coalesce in Liverpool University's project to transform 바카라사이트 Liverpool Royal Infirmary into a centre for university-business collaboration.

Designed by 바카라사이트 Victorian architect Arthur Waterhouse, whose main university building gave its name to 바카라사이트 term "redbrick university", 바카라사이트 LRI stands on 바카라사이트 edge of Liverpool University's 90-acre estate. It was last used in 1978, and 바카라사이트 plans will transform it into a "people transfer centre" where academics and business people can meet. The project has won Pounds 3.5 million of European funding, and Professor Love is in no doubt about 바카라사이트 significance of 바카라사이트 upgraded hospital. "It will become 바카라사이트 university's gateway."