FORMER Education Secretary Justine Greening was on hand to formally launch a major new blueprint on how the University of Worcester aims to improve social mobility across the city.
Ms Greening delivered a talk at The Hive as part of the HiveAt10 celebrations which focused on how the country’s higher education institutions like Worcester are at the centre of levelling up communities.
As part of the talk, Ms Greening, who served in Government from 2010 to 2018, formally launched the University’s Levelling Up report, which sets out how the University is working in partnership to provide opportunities and increase social mobility.
“The University of Worcester, under the leadership of Professor David Green, has demonstrated a commitment to being an anchor institution and spreading equality of opportunity,” she said.
“With the current cost of living crisis, there has never been a more important time for universities to articulate their purpose and make sure they are having a wider social impact.
“The University of Worcester has positioned itself at the heart of the city by creatively opening up its facilities for public benefit.”
One of Britain’s most influential campaigners for improved opportunities, social mobility and levelling up both inside Government and outside, in 2018 Ms Greening co-founded the Social Mobility Pledge to bring organisations together to improve social mobility.
Professor Green said: “We have been honoured to work with Justine and her team on producing our Levelling Up report and were delighted to welcome her to The Hive, as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations, to formally launch the report.
“Colleagues across the University are very committed to providing an outstanding high quality education for individuals, that is driven by an inclusive ethos, as well as engaging in practical partnerships that create opportunity for people and their communities.”
Ms Greening is also a notable campaigner for women and girls and played a key role in ensuring that the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal for Gender Equality was included in the Goals (SDG 5).
When Times Higher Education (THE) first reported on University Impact in 2019, it found that the University of Worcester was number one in the UK and number four in the world for Gender Equality. Worcester has been the top University in the UK for fair gender pay for all five years since the UK Gender Pay Gap reporting was launched.
The HiveAt10 is a celebration of the successful 10-year partnership between the University of Worcester and Worcestershire County Council to create this facility.
Visit www.thehiveworcester.org/hiveat10 for more.
