Royal Holloway, University of London is one of 10 leading research-focused universities forming a new strategic partnership.
Royal Holloway, University of London.
Royal Holloway, University of London is one of 10 leading research-focused universities forming a new strategic partnership.
‘ResearchPlus’ will give a collective voice to universities that constitute a critical element of the UK’s research and innovation system, and that deliver vital research-informed education and advanced skills.
ResearchPlus has the primary aim of enhancing the strength of the UK’s research and innovation base. Through strategic collaboration and proactive engagement, this new partnership will seek to support economic growth, prosperity, and societal wellbeing across the whole of the UK, working with government, business, and civil society, and complementing rather than competing with other sector bodies.
Professor Julie Sanders, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at Royal Holloway, said: “I’m proud to announce that Royal Holloway is part of this collaboration, and we’re excited about the possibilities it will offer us and indeed the sector over time.
“We all share a genuine commitment to supporting and advocating for our diverse, innovative, research-intensive universities, as part of the wider UK higher education ecosystem.
“As part of our collective endeavour, Royal Holloway will advocate for what matters: our students, and the opportunity we have to develop skills for choice and opportunity, for inclusive research and education and for social purpose.”
The foundations of most ResearchPlus universities were laid by successive government and industry initiatives to invest in economic growth and social development, through fundamental research, the advancement of technology, and the expansion of educational opportunity and the provision of advanced skills.
ResearchPlus universities remain true to those missions and are essential partners for government, businesses, and communities in the expansion and re-imagining of universities’ contribution to the public good. They will play a vital role in delivering the ambitions of the Industrial Strategy across all eight high-growth sectors.
Over the next few months, the ResearchPlus partners will develop a programme of collective and collaborative work and engagement, with a formal parliamentary launch planned for the autumn.
A spokesperson for ResearchPlus said: “Currently, a significant number of research-focused universities are not aligned to any university mission group. This is a particular problem for the research and innovation challenges the UK faces. We cannot afford not to make the most of the UK’s research and innovation capabilities and capacities.
“Through the creation of a new collaborative, ResearchPlus, leading research-focused universities can make a stronger collective contribution to public and policy debates on research and innovation, research-informed higher education, and advanced skills, supporting policymakers and public goals.
“Each ResearchPlus partner has outstanding research teams and specialist areas that are recognised as being amongst the very best in the world, attracting global talent in staff and students. Each is essential to the success of the industrial and business ecosystems, public services, and community and cultural life in their places. Together, they, and other similar universities, play the same role UK-wide.
“Our intention is to grow the partnership with other leading research-focused universities and to develop a programme of work and activities to support our goals.”
ResearchPlus Vice-Chancellors set out their manifesto in a blog published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI).
Welcoming the formation of ResearchPlus, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP added: “The UK is home to some of the best universities in the world, making ResearchPlus an exciting opportunity to bring that top talent together to solve challenges and unlock new innovations that improve lives across our country.
“By strengthening collaboration between universities, industry and government we can break down barriers to opportunity and work together to drive the economic growth that is central to the Government’s Plan for Change.”
The initial ResearchPlus partners are:
· Brunel University of London
· City St George’s, University of London
· Keele University
· Royal Holloway, University of London
· SOAS, University of London
· The University of Essex
· The University of Hull
· The Open University
· The University of Sussex
· Ulster University
