Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Notes on Contributors
- Foreword by His Excellency Bernard Emié
- Foreword by Sir Peter Westmacott
- Preface
- Part I Teaching and Training Partnerships
- Part II Research Partnerships
- Part III Broader Perspectives
- Appendices: Addresses and Speeches at the Franco-British Academic Partnerships Seminar, French Institute, London, 5 February 2010
- 1 David Willetts, MP
- 2 Valérie Pécresse
- 3 Rick Trainor
- 4 Florentine Petit
- 5 Brigitte Porée: The French Grandes Écoles and British Universities
- 6 Monique Canto-Sperber
- 7 Sir Howard Davies: Franco-British University Collaboration – Can We Realise Churchill's 1940 Vision?
- 8 Adam Steinhouse: Academic–Government Partnerships – A Pragmatic View
- 9 Hélène Duchêne
- 10 Support for Higher Education from the French Embassy
- 11 Strengths and Opportunities in the British University System
- Index
1 - David Willetts, MP
from Appendices: Addresses and Speeches at the Franco-British Academic Partnerships Seminar, French Institute, London, 5 February 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Notes on Contributors
- Foreword by His Excellency Bernard Emié
- Foreword by Sir Peter Westmacott
- Preface
- Part I Teaching and Training Partnerships
- Part II Research Partnerships
- Part III Broader Perspectives
- Appendices: Addresses and Speeches at the Franco-British Academic Partnerships Seminar, French Institute, London, 5 February 2010
- 1 David Willetts, MP
- 2 Valérie Pécresse
- 3 Rick Trainor
- 4 Florentine Petit
- 5 Brigitte Porée: The French Grandes Écoles and British Universities
- 6 Monique Canto-Sperber
- 7 Sir Howard Davies: Franco-British University Collaboration – Can We Realise Churchill's 1940 Vision?
- 8 Adam Steinhouse: Academic–Government Partnerships – A Pragmatic View
- 9 Hélène Duchêne
- 10 Support for Higher Education from the French Embassy
- 11 Strengths and Opportunities in the British University System
- Index
Summary
This is a critical moment for higher education systems across Europe. Our universities face the challenge of fiscal retrenchment. At the same time, globalisation means growing competition from institutions in North America, South East Asia and elsewhere. To attract students and research funding, our systems must continue to modernise.
In meeting these challenges, however, our higher education systems will make a vital contribution to growth and prosperity. By generating knowledge for commercial exploitation and by preparing students for the world of work, universities are essential to improving economic performance.
Success in both these areas hinges on strong, equal partnerships between universities and businesses. In a situation where governments are less able to take on the burden of funding research, such partnerships are necessary to develop clusters of excellence which, in turn, generate further investment.
Similarly, universities need to do more to prepare their students for employment, while employers – in the public as well as the private sector – should be involved in curriculum design.
This is not about reducing higher education to the function of job training. Universities perform civic, intellectual and cultural roles which are just as important as any economic one. Nevertheless, they have a responsibility to ensure that students – the principal users of universities – obtain the skills necessary to support them during their working lives. Higher education provides young people with a primary route into adulthood and employment.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Franco-British Academic PartnershipsThe Next Chapter, pp. 203 - 204Publisher: Liverpool University PressPrint publication year: 2011