A report
published today calls for universities to be at the heart of the
economy to promote growth in the UK and improve the employability
of our graduates.
The former vice-chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire and
HEFCE board member Professor Sir Tim Wilson was asked by the
Government to undertake a review into how universities work with
business to ensure graduate skills and employability meet the
needs of business, and to maximise the university sector’s
capabilities in business-led research and innovation.
His report makes a series of recommendations for universities,
business and the Government.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said:
“The best universities around the world are building deeper links
with business. We must ensure our universities and businesses
develop strong relationships to maximise innovation and ensure
students come out of universities equipped to excel in the workforce.”
“The Government welcomes much of what Sir Tim says and will now
carefully consider his recommendations in detail.”
Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said:
“Sir Tim’s review has identified a number of examples of how
collaboration can work in the real world and the good practice
that already exists. I’d now like to see this best practice spread
more widely within and across universities, businesses, industry
sectors and local areas.
“Sir Tim has produced a comprehensive and timely report. The
challenge now is for universities and businesses - with government
- to work together to drive forward these recommendations to
ensure the long term world class competitiveness of our economy.”
Professor Sir Tim Wilson said:
“It is clear from my review that the UK has the potential to be a
world leader in university-business collaboration, building on the
diversity of collaborative networks, partnerships and supply
chains that already exist. The key to success is on-going cultural
change, strengthening and extending the relationships between
business and universities. To achieve this; belief, commitment and
leadership amongst universities, business and government is essential.
“If this potential is fulfilled, universities will be at the
heart of our knowledge-based economy, collaborating with business
and government to generate the wealth necessary for a healthy and
prosperous society.
“I hope that my recommendations will act as a foundation for such
future success.”
The report’s recommendations aim to:
· Produce graduates with knowledge and skills – specialist
and generic – relevant to their future careers, and provide
opportunities for students to integrate work and enterprise
experience and study.
· Ensure there is a constant interchange of research, ideas
and people between academe and business to sustain world
class research within our universities.
· Embed a culture of pursuing the application of university
based research excellence, optimising the use of government
support in research, innovation and development.
· Create economic growth through partnership with Local
Enterprise Partnerships and government agencies, leveraging
each university’s capabilities to support UK companies and to
attract inward investment.
· Build collaboration between universities, businesses and
government agencies to identify areas of future knowledge
and capability creation and identify where partners’ research
investment should be made.
The Government will formally respond to the review
recommendations in due course.
Notes to editors
1. Professor Sir Tim Wilson’s review can be found on the BIS
website here http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/w/12-610-wilson-review-business-university-collaboration
and the review website here www.wilsonreview.co.uk.
2. Sir Tim Wilson was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Hertfordshire in September 2003, a post he held
until December 2010. A strong advocate of the role of universities
in economic development and acknowledged as one of the leading
thinkers in university-business collaboration, he was the founding
Chairman of Hertfordshire’s Local Enterprise Partnership. Sir Tim
was appointed Knight Bachelor for services to Higher Education and
to business in the 2011 New Year’s Honours List.
3. Professor Sir Tim Wilson has been supported by a core review
team: Alix Green, Head of Policy, Hertfordshire University has
been Principal Adviser to the Review, with Chris Millward, Higher
Education Funding Council, and Andrew Battarbee, BIS. A Review
Panel of contributors with in-depth experience of
university-business collaboration and a culture of evidence based
research have provided the foundations of the report. An Editorial
Board of expert business and university representatives has
provided comments on the emerging report. A wider Advisory Board
of individuals with expertise in the field have informed and
guided the direction of the report. Research coordination and
secretariat has been provided by HEFCE – Peter Seddon, Chris
Rowell, Nicki Jackson, Fiona Gray.
4. BIS's online newsroom contains the latest press
notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It
also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See
http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Jenny Varnham
Phone: 020 7215 5080
jenny.varnham@bis.gsi.gov.uk