Emma Hardy MP, the former Shadow Universities Minister joins the Board alongside vice-chancellors and sector leaders
Emma Hardy MP, former Shadow Universities Minister and Member of Parliament for Hull West and Hessle
Higher education charity the UPP Foundation has recruited a former Shadow Minister, vice-chancellors and sector leaders to join its Advisory Board.
Established in 2016 by student accommodation provider UPP, the UPP Foundation is a UK-wide grant making charity and thought leadership platform with the vision of helping students, graduates and universities fulfil their potential to transform lives and communities.
Chaired by the Rt Hon Chris Skidmore MP, the Advisory Board supports the Foundation through members’ expertise, strategic insights and external advocacy.
New Advisory Board members include:
- Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor, Newcastle University
- Emma Hardy MP, former Shadow Universities Minister and Member of Parliament for Hull West and Hessle
- Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor, University of Bristol
- Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor, Loughborough University
- Rachel Sandby-Thomas, Registrar, University of Warwick
- Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive of Universities UK
The new members will compliment an existing group of policy makers and sector leaders who form the Foundation’s Advisory Board.
Commenting on the new appointments, the Chair of the UPP Foundation Advisory Board, the Rt Hon Chris Skidmore MP said:
Through the civic university movement, student futures commission and our pilot grants programme, the Foundation has had a major impact across UK higher education. These brilliant appointments will help to strengthen the Advisory Board and support the Foundation deliver on its 2025 strategy.
New member of the UPP Foundation Advisory Board, Emma Hardy MP said:
I am a strong supporter of the civic university movement as I believe universities have an important role to play at the heart of their communities as agents for positive economic and social change. I am delighted to have been invited to serve on the UPP Foundation Advisory Board and look forward to working with everyone involved to support and advance the notion of the university as a public good
New member of the UPP Foundation Advisory Board and Newcastle University Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Day said:
As the Vice Chancellor of a University that is very much an “anchor” institution in North East England and Chair of the of the UUK’s Task Force on the role of universities in economic and social recovery of the UK from the pandemic, I believe firmly in the civic role of UK Universities. I very much look forward to serving on the Board to further advance this role for universities at a time when they have perhaps never been more needed by the country.
New member of the UPP Foundation Advisory Board and University of Bristol Vice-Chancellor Professor Evelyn Welch said:
We are the University for Bristol as well as the University of Bristol. Our new strategy sets out how we will deliver our role as a global civic university, tackling society’s greatest challenges with the city of Bristol and our many local partners. The UPP Foundation’s work has helped inform our approach and, indeed, spurred the wider civic university movement. I am delighted to join the Foundation’s Advisory Board as it continues to promote the important civic role of universities across the UK.
New member of the UPP Foundation Advisory Board and Loughborough University Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Jennings said:
I am delighted to be joining the UPP Foundation Advisory Board. I am passionate about the vital role that Universities such as Loughborough play in their communities and regions and we need to ensure that these benefits are felt by everybody in society and everybody who attends our great institutions.
New member of the UPP Foundation Advisory Board and University of Warwick Registrar Rachel Sandby-Thomas said:
In my previous role, it was widely recognised and appreciated the pivotal role that universities play as anchor institutions in their communities and regions. Warwick’s commitment to that role and being a great civic university is one of the many reasons I am proud to be part of it and I am thrilled to be joining the UPP Foundation Advisory Board to help keep promoting and developing that mission
New member of the UPP Foundation Advisory Board and CEO of Universities UK Vivienne Stern MBE said:
Universities are a force for good economically, socially and societally, at both a national and international level. But their unsung contribution to issues of ‘place’ at the heart of their local communities should not be forgotten.
I am excited to work with the UPP Foundation to continue to explore, encourage and champion the work universities do every day with communities across the UK.
