Universities are central to the UK's national renewal, intellectually, economically and socially, writes UCL's President & Provost Dr Michael Spence.
As the new government considers its programme and the opposition refreshes its ideas, renewal is front of mind this autumn. Universities, like UCL, have a huge contribution to make to these endeavours.
We have long been at the forefront of both the ideas behind and the delivery of renewal, socially and economically, for the UK. As we prepare to refresh our work in the service of meeting the challenges the country faces, it is worth reiterating the many areas in which we contribute to renewal, and in which we hope to do yet more.
As the new government considers its programme and the opposition refreshes its ideas, renewal is front of mind this autumn. Universities, like UCL, have a huge contribution to make to these endeavours. We have long been at the forefront of both the ideas behind and the delivery of renewal, socially and economically, for the UK. As we prepare to refresh our work in the service of meeting the challenges the country faces, it is worth reiterating the many areas in which we contribute to renewal, and in which we hope to do yet more.
Intellectual renewal
It is well understood that universities make a massive contribution to the intellectual, scientific and cultural discourse of our country. In addition to this, UCL for one, has held firm to the commitment to share our extensive expertise and ideas with policy makers at all levels. In London for example we work with local boroughs on issues ranging from environmental sustainability to town centre recovery, to public health. UCL Policy Lab, which brings together extraordinary ideas and everyday experience, is running a series of events at party conferences that I hope will provide much insight and spur much constructive debate.
Our role as a platform for debate further underlies our commitment to engage with political ideas. At a time of increasing polarisation, it has never been more important for the university, in a liberal democracy, to live up to its role in helping communities debate the contentious issues of the day while co-existing. At UCL we are proud of our Disagreeing Well programme that, focusing on our own community, aims to do just this.
Economic renewal
Much of the conversation at party conferences will focus on economic renewal. Here the contribution of universities can go under the radar. Politicians often (rightly) laud the tech sector as key to future economic growth. Its value to the UK is estimated at £150bn. The university sector is in the same league, our impact being £130bn each year. UCL alone contributes £9.9bn annually to the UK economy and supports 18,000 jobs, 7,000 of them outside of London.
This is underpinned by our huge contribution in supporting and nurturing talent. Graduates from higher education each year have been shown to be one of the few consistent contributors to productivity growth in the UK. This is in part because our sector works hard to ensure graduates leave with useful knowledge. At UCL, for example, almost half of undergraduates study on programmes which are accredited or endorsed by professional bodies, helping to create the next generation in fields such as Medicine, Engineering, Pharmacy, Law, Psychology, and Architecture.
It is also underpinned by research and innovation excellence. Here we represent incredible value for the public investment we receive. Every £1 of public funds invested in R&D at research intensive UK universities adds more than £8.50 to the economy.
Our potential to contribute yet more is shown by the growing numbers of new companies we generate. UK universities have 19,000 active spin-outs, start-ups and social enterprises. Our research excellence brings in the private investment which creates these innovations. With the right support from government, we can do even more to spur growth across every part of the country in this way.
Social renewal
This brings me to the role universities play in social renewal. The contribution of companies started at UCL cannot only be measured in pounds and pennies. Take for example Freeline Therapeutics which creates therapies for patients with genetic disorders and has for the first time cured a patient of haemophilia B, or Carbon Re which uses AI to cut the emissions of heavy industry.
Perhaps more fundamentally, our role as higher education providers is a crucial one for society. Our contribution to public services stands out. Universities train over 100,000 public service workers every year - 42,000 nurses, 21,000 medical specialists, and 38,000 teachers. In shaping the future of these professions and through research into best practices and new technologies, we are at the forefront of reform of the public realm.
Our role in ensuring equality of opportunity is of utmost importance. At UCL we take great pride in our partnership with schools aimed at helping potential students from underrepresented backgrounds see that they belong at UCL. As we do in the financial aid that we provide, from supporting prospective students fleeing conflict to our UCL East London Scholarship for aspiring local students to study at our new campus on the Olympic Park.
This adds to the support universities give to local communities in countless ways, from volunteer programmes, to advising local charities and opening up sports facilities and museums to the public. It is estimated that members of the community interacted with universities on over 500 million occasions over the last year.
These social and economic impacts are tangible and felt in places up and down the UK. Whether it is in bringing in local investment, providing local jobs or opening our doors to support local communities, universities are vital anchor institutions.
Service, to one another and to the wider community is in all these ways fundamental to what it means to be a university. Our role is one of shared endeavour, where all no matter their background have the chance to shape the world around them. To learn and to serve. Our partnerships, be they with community groups, health providers, businesses or political leaders nationally and locally, are central to our purpose.
Working together with our partners, in the many ways set out above, universities such as UCL are central to the UK's national renewal intellectually, economically and socially.
This article by Dr Michael Spence is in the UCL Policy Lab's latest magazine, published here: Issue 7
