09 June 2010
CBI Chief discusses current challenges facing higher education
The Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) visited the University of Sheffield yesterday (8 June 2010) to explore the challenges facing UK Plc, in the context of the recent election and one of the deepest recessions in years.
Richard Lambert hosted an evening lecture discussing these key issues as well as examining the importance of collaboration between business and Higher Education, looking back at lessons learned from the past.
Richard Lambert joined the CBI after an extremely distinguished career in financial journalism. He became editor of the Financial Times in 1991 and during his ten years in this role launched the US version of the newspaper. In 2003 he wrote the influential Lambert Review of Business-University Collaboration on the request of the government. A member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee from Spring 2003 until Spring 2006, Richard took up the post of Director-General of the CBI in July 2006.
The Sheffield Management Lecture, which is co-hosted by the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University, is a key annual event in the regional business calendar, providing a forum to explore contemporary management issues relevant to both the private and public sectors.
Richard Lambert said: "Business has a strong interest in the well being of the university system, as a source of knowledge transferred through the recruitment of high quality graduates and through research partnerships of many different kinds. Decisions to be taken in the next 12 months will help to determine the shape of higher education in the UK for decades to come. The country urgently needs a broad debate about want we want from our university system – a debate which spreads out well beyond the academy and those with a direct interest in higher education."
Professor Keith Glaister, Dean of the University of Sheffield´s Management School, said: "With the economy at a critical point, and more challenging circumstances for Higher Education than perhaps we have ever encountered, Richard Lambert's lecture could not have been more timely. The evening provided much food for thought with insights into both lessons we can learn from the past as well as opportunities that we should grasp in the future."
Professor Chris Booth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University, said "Collaboration between Business and Universities has never been more critical. To make this happen, Universities have to reach out and actively engage the Business Community to develop mutually beneficial partnerships in knowledge transfer, innovation and organisational and workforce development."
Notes for Editors: The transcript and audio files for the lecture can be found at the below link.
For further information please contact: Lauren Anderson, Media Relations Officer, on 0114 2221046 or email l.h.anderson@sheffield.ac.uk
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