News

North East hosts Europe-wide focus on universities and regional growth

(3 September 2003)

Public relations professionals from universities throughout Europe are gathering in North East England to pool their know-how about the regional benefits of higher education institutions.

And their line-up of speakers includes Sir Howard Newby, the man in charge of university funding in England; North East MEP Barbara O’Toole; one of the region’s own leading academics in the field, Professor John Goddard of Newcastle University.

The North East is among the premier regions of Europe when it comes to collaboration and strategic partnerships between universities, regional planners, business and other sections of the community. All the universities run special projects to encourage applications from more people whose families have little or no tradition of going to university. They also have close links with business to help new discoveries into commercial activity and provide new learning and training opportunities.

Five universities in the North East - Durham, Teesside, Sunderland, Northumbria and Newcastle - have teamed up to co-host this week’s Europe-wide conference on the communications dimensions of work by universities to help boost economic and social development in their regions.

The event which is receiving support from the regional development agency, One NorthEast, is the 15th annual conference of EUPRIO, the association of European Universities Public Relations and Information Officers. Previous venues include Berlin, Lapland and Barcelona and this is the first time it has been held in England. It has drawn some 200 delegates from 24 countries - from Portugal to Romania, Norway to Malta.

Based at Durham University from 4-7 September, it has attracted further support from the Newcastle-based national information service HERO: Higher Education and Research Opportunities in the UK, and the Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative.

Nic Mitchell, Press and PR Manager at Teesside University who chairs the organising group, said: “We are delighted that the North East was chosen to stage this event. Our region was the first in the UK to put universities at the heart of its regional economic strategy. Universities engage with schools, employers and other partners to boost people’s opportunities for learning and build better links between academic research and business.

“We are addressing a huge range of audiences, so these operations present many challenges for communicators - which is the main theme we shall be exploring, with examples from this region as well as Italy, Sweden, Denmark and elsewhere.”

Dr John Bridge, Chairman of One NorthEast, who will welcome delegates to the region along with Sir Kenneth Calman, Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, said: “The region’s universities have a key role to play in the development of the North East, socially, economically and culturally.

“The Science & Industry Council is one area where the region’s universities are working with One NorthEast, business and other stakeholders to develop and exploit technology to improve the North East’s learning and employment prospects.

“With their vast international networks our universities are well placed to position the North East’s as a leading region within Europe and events like the EUPRIO Conference allow us to highlight this region’s strengths through a very influential group of individuals.”

Sir Kenneth Calman said: “All the North East universities have extensive partnerships around Europe, and we attract hundreds of European students to study here. These links are among the strengths we are able to invest in our home region. I am delighted that this exchange of information and ideas is taking place in the North East, and in particular in Durham.”

Key guest speakers include:

Sir Howard Newby Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England

Professor Bob Fryer Chief Executive of the National Health Service University

Phil Shakeshaft Head of Strategy, One NorthEast

Chris Pywell Head of Innovation, One NorthEast

Professor John Goddard Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Newcastle

Barbara O’Toole MEP, North East England

Issues, in the wider European context, include:

• widening participation to encourage people from a broader range of backgrounds into university
• technology transfer from research to industry
• the increasing use of IT in the teaching and learning experience.

Delegates will attend evening networking sessions at three diverse landmark venues in the North East that illustrate its rich and dynamic heritage: Durham Castle, a Norman World Heritage building now part of Durham University; the restored 18th century Hartlepool Historic Quay; and the new Centre for Life in Newcastle, which is both a base for cutting edge research and a hands-on scientific learning experience for members of the public.

Website with programme and other details: www.euprio2003.org

Further information:

Keith Seacroft, Head of PR, University of Durham 0191 334 6074
Nic Mitchell, Press & PR Manager, University of Teesside 01642 342015