Richard Lambert will be giving a speech to an audience of Vice-Chancellors, members of the business community and parliamentarians at Universities UK's inaugural annual lecture this evening (Tuesday).

Diana Warwick, Chief-executive, Universities UK, said: "It is a great pleasure to have Richard Lambert delivering Universities UK's inaugural annual lecture. Richard Lambert knows the HE sector extremely well through his 2003 review of business-university collaboration.

"We are delighted that he is using this opportunity to highlight the importance of part-time and lifelong learning. We are all acutely aware that changing demographics mean there will be fewer young people entering higher education in the years ahead. It is vital therefore that universities and business work together to ensure that more people in the population are equipped with the right degree-level skills. We are particularly pleased that Universities UK and the CBI are already engaged in joint projects to address this big issue.

"Richard Lambert also raises some challenging questions about the collaboration between higher education and business, and about the future funding of higher education. These are all big policy issues and it is vital that all stakeholders engage fully with these agendas for the sake of the UK's national and international competitiveness."
ENDS

Notes

Universities UK’s inaugural annual lecture - taking place on Tuesday 11th December - will feature a keynote speech from Richard Lambert, director-general of the CBI, on "The Role of Higher Education from a Business Perspective”. The lecture will be held from 18.45 - 20.30 in the Telford Theatre, One Great George Street, London.

Universities UK is starting a programme of activity with the CBI on HE-business partnerships and graduate employability which will address the strategic issues and challenges for HE and business in working together to meet identified skills needs.

Universities UK is the major representative body and membership organisation for the higher education sector. It represents the UK's universities and some higher education colleges. Its 131 members http://www.UniversitiesUK.ac.uk/members/ are the executive heads of these institutions. Founded in 1918 and formerly known as the Committee for Vice-Chancellors and Principals (CVCP), Universities UK will celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2008.