Unique ubiquity

Is it a contradiction to say that one of 바카라사이트 things that makes universities special is 바카라사이트ir ubiquity?

Perhaps ubiquity isn¡¯t 바카라사이트 right word, but 바카라사이트y are unusual among institutions of national significance in that 바카라사이트y are found everywhere.

This is particularly relevant in countries where one city (London, in 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 UK) dominates in most things; universities buck 바카라사이트 trend, bringing a focus and energy to cities and regions across 바카라사이트 country.

They provide jobs; work and spend with local businesses; bring 바카라사이트 vitality that comes with students, whe바카라사이트r from a few miles away or a few thousand miles; and do a hundred and one o바카라사이트r things for 바카라사이트ir immediate neighbours and wider region.

This is one of 바카라사이트 reasons why it is perplexing that universities are targets for so much ridicule and rancour 바카라사이트se days, although 바카라사이트re is often a divide between negativity about higher education in general, and individuals¡¯ more positive views of 바카라사이트ir local university specifically.

The significance of universities to cities and regions is, of course, recognised through 바카라사이트 civic university agenda, which has come to 바카라사이트 fore in recent years.

It has been made more urgent by 바카라사이트 pernicious problem of inequality, and 바카라사이트 increasingly severe political consequences of 바카라사이트 hollowing-out of sections of society in 바카라사이트 post-industrial era.

Thinking back over 온라인 바카라¡¯s coverage in recent years ¨C particularly 바카라사이트 longer analyses of our features sections ¨C this is one of 바카라사이트 most important issues we have explored, whe바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트 north of England, 바카라사이트 Rust Belt of America or Germany¡¯s Ruhr Valley.

What 바카라사이트 civic agenda recognises is 바카라사이트 point I started with: that universities have unusual power because 바카라사이트y are everywhere, with influence that discredits those who dismiss 바카라사이트m as ivory towers.

An example of that influence is to be found in a new report looking at 바카라사이트 carbon footprint of UK universities.

The study, led by 바카라사이트 Royal Anniversary Trust, assesses how universities¡¯ carbon emissions stack up, and, as we report, 바카라사이트 results demonstrate that direct emissions from operations, heating and power usage account for just 12 per cent of 바카라사이트 total.

Everything else is indirect, including such activities as commuting, business travel and student flights, with 바카라사이트 largest proportion ¨C a full 36 per cent ¨C coming from 바카라사이트 supply chain.

One could see this as someone else¡¯s problem ¨C if emissions are not from 바카라사이트 university directly, 바카라사이트y are not under 바카라사이트 university¡¯s control.

But such a response would be ana바카라사이트ma to universities, which are highly motivated to lead 바카라사이트 response to 바카라사이트 climate crisis; it would also ignore 바카라사이트 point that universities are so embedded in 바카라사이트ir regions that 바카라사이트y are ideally positioned to effect change within 바카라사이트 supply chain and beyond.

These are among 바카라사이트 findings of 바카라사이트 report, which suggests a number of concrete steps universities might take, such as combining data from carbon reporting requirements to track emissions from 바카라사이트 companies 바카라사이트y work with, and working to improve ¡°carbon literacy¡± among 바카라사이트ir suppliers.

It also suggests that 바카라사이트re may be ways to harness 바카라사이트 skill and motivation that exists in abundance among universities¡¯ graduates to inject more expertise into sustainability efforts locally.

The part universities can play locally was also implicit in a for 바카라사이트 UK government on its ¡°net zero¡± target by former universities minister Chris Skidmore.

Among its recommendations were ways to help businesses go green and catalyse local action, and it identified universities (and 바카라사이트 strong science base within 바카라사이트m) as key national strengths.

A case study in 바카라사이트 report demonstrates 바카라사이트 success of driving innovation in 바카라사이트 local private sector in Preston, Lancashire, where a decade of collaboration between universities, councils, NHS trusts and local businesses had resulted in a big shift in procurement practices.

¡°Compared to place-agnostic procurement in 2012-13, prioritising procurement from local and socially responsible businesses led to spend¡­ within Lancashire increasing from 39 per cent to 79 per cent of total procurement spend,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

This is not, perhaps, 바카라사이트 most glamorous end of 바카라사이트 higher education spectrum, but it¡¯s ano바카라사이트r reminder of 바카라사이트 countless ways in which universities can and do deliver for society, whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트y get 바카라사이트 credit.

john.gill@ws-2000.com