Commission set to be launched next week
When the first civic universities were set up, at the end of the 19th century, it was clear that as well as aiming to rival the two ancient universities in the depth and quality of their learning, they also had specifically local concerns. They had a sense of the place in which they were located, as well as limitless intellectual ambition. We want to identify how those local links are still relevant, and what local communities now expect of universities. The panel will operate as a travelling select committee, hearing evidence across the country of what works best and where there might be areas where there is work for all of us to do. We could not have a better chair than Lord Kerslake. For over a decade, he brought inspirational leadership to the city of Sheffield as its Chief Executive. Sheffield, of course, is home to one of the best examples of the traditional civic university. As Permanent Secretary of what is now the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, he dealt with some of the biggest challenges facing communities wrestling with change while seeking to preserve their unique character.
In a blog for Wonkhe I have discussed how universities, local people and anyone else with ideas to contribute can be part of our work. If you would like to discuss opportunities to engage with the Civic University Commission do get in touch upp-foundation@upp-ltd.com
Lord Kerslake, Chair of the Commission
Commissioners
- Lord Kerslake (Chair and former Head of the Civil Service)
- Professor John Goddard OBE (Deputy Chair, Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor University of Newcastle and author of The Civic University)
- Baroness Bakewell (Journalist and President of Birkbeck, University of London)
- Dinah Caine CBE (Creative Industries Council)
- Professor Glyn Davis (Vice-Chancellor, University of Melbourne)
- Dame Rachel De Souza (Chief Executive, Inspiration Trust)
- Amatey Doku (Vice-President Higher Education, National Union of Students)
- David Frost CBE, DL (Chairman of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Governor and Chair of Educational Common Board, Coventry University)
- Smita Jamdar (Partner, Shakespeare Martineau)
- Alistair Jarvis (Chief Executive, Universities UK)
- Nick King (Former Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for DCLG)
- Diane Lees CBE (Director-General, Imperial War Museums)
- Dr Paul Marshall (Chair of UPP Foundation)
- Professor Mary Stuart (Vice-Chancellor, University of Lincoln)
- Professor Steve West CBE (Vice-Chancellor, University of West of England and Chair of West of England LEP)
- Professor William Whyte (Professor of Social and Architectural History, University of Oxford and author of Redbrick, the History of Britain’s Civic Universities)
