Universities should make themselves the research arms of regional public services, according to a new report.
The paper, by academics from the Child of the North group, warns that higher education institutions – and the world-class research and academics they produce – are “disconnected from the societies they live in and alongside”.
In response, it calls for higher education institutions in the north of England to restyle themselves as the research and development departments of public services, such as local authorities, which is an initiative championed by Charlie Jeffery, vice-chancellor of the University of York.
“There is an urgent need to build relationships and systems that can hardwire universities into education, health, housing, social care, policing and other public service systems,” the authors say.
