'Universities and their Regional Impacts'

(left to right) are: Peter McGregor, Fergus Devitt, Walter McMahon, Ursula Kelly, Murdo Fraser, Paul Boyle and Phil Gummett

A large group from the Economics Department and Fraser of Allander Institute took part in the conference - Universities and their Regional Impacts: Making a Difference to the Economy and Society - together with researchers from 16 other higher education institutions.

They discussed the findings of the three-year, £3 million Initiative The Impact of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on Regional Economies, which sought to build up a national picture of how universities affect the regional economies and societies of the UK. The Initiative is jointly co-ordinated by Ursula Kelly and Professor Peter McGregor of the University of Strathclyde. In addition to the two co-ordinators, three other members of the Strathclyde team gave presentations: Dr Katerina Lisenkova and Professors Kim Swales and Robert Wright.

The conference in Edinburgh (November 16-17) marked the final UK-wide conference of the Initiative, although four more regional events are planned for early next year. The topics included: the impact of students on city housing and labour market; an assessment of how university and business collaborations effect innovation; the impact of universities on regional economies through demand and supply channels and the impact of academics' work with communities.

The conference was introduced by Professor Jim McDonald, Principal of the University of Strathclyde, and speakers included:

• Mr Michael Russell MSP, Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
• Mr John McClelland, Chair of the Scottish Funding Council
• Mr Mark Batho, Chief Executive, the Scottish Funding Council
• Mr Phil Baty, Deputy Editor of the Times Higher Education
• Professor Phillip Gummett, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
• Professor Paul Boyle, Chief Executive of the Economic and Social Research Council
• Mr Fergus Devitt, Director of Higher Education, Department for Employment and Learning, Northern Ireland
• Professor Walter McMahon, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The Initiative is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in partnership with the Scottish, Welsh and English Higher Education Funding Councils and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland.

The conference ended with an evening networking reception hosted at the Scottish Parliament by Murdo Fraser MSP, co-convenor of the Cross Party Group on Universities.