Above all, universities are institutions grounded in place: we talk of the University of Oxford, the University of Liverpool. My own university – Sheffield Hallam – proudly declares its affiliation to a great city and its historic region. And universities have been great drivers of prosperity for their places.
They do this through what might almost be a magic formula: they are seats of learning, but also centres of innovation. They attract bright, talented students and they employ extremely able, creative staff.
