What are we doing (or could we be doing) to create an environment graduates can thrive in, and contribute towards the economy of Yorkshire? How are we responding to challenges and opportunities together? What works? At the 11 July conference, we’re focussing on the uniqueness of Yorkshire Universities’ (YU) mission, positioning, networks, and partnership activity, designed to …
Op-ed by Dr Peter O’Brien, Executive Director for Yorkshire Universities The higher education sector is one of the UK’s greatest assets, generating significant economic, social and cultural value. Research commissioned by Universities UK, in 2022, found that universities in England contribute around £95 billion to the economy and support more than 815,000 jobs, Higher education …
On Wednesday 26 November, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves presented the Autumn Budget. The Budget confirmed that Government will work closely with local leaders, universities, and Northern businesses on the Northern Growth Corridor to grow the economy and attract inward investment, with a plan for the Corridor to be set out by early …
This blog was originally published on the City-REDI blog. Rebecca Riley, Peter O’Brien and Helen Turner reflect on the Innovation for Growth summit – UKRI. Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) opened the summit with an analogy that, in 1996, Team GB finished 36th in the Olympic medal table a sobering …
Lauren Hunter, YU Communications and Data Insights Officer & Kate Hainsworth, YU Associate An era of implementation COP30 concluded with a clear message: the time for implementation is now. At the summit, world leaders agree to accelerating implementation of the Paris Agreement, expand finance for adaption, launch a Technology Implementation Program, and strengthen cooperation across …
John Harrison, YU Associate If you have ever dreamed of a world where modular learning meets employer enthusiasm and regional collaboration (sounds like a superhero team-up), then congratulations, you’re living it! The UK’s latest education white paper is not just a policy update; it is a full-blown systems-level remix of how we train, teach, and …
Background Recent government policy has focused on the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) for the future of the UK’s economy and society. In January 2025, the UK Government published the AI Opportunities Action Plan. The Action Plan set out the government’s intention to create a number of AI Growth Zones across the UK to boost …
Background In May 2025, the UK Government published the Immigration White Paper, “Restoring Control over the Immigration System”. A policy proposed in this paper was a 6% levy on international student fees, to be “reinvested into the higher education and skills system.”The Immigration White Paper Technical Annex projected the impact that this price rise would …
Professor Charlie Jeffery CBE, Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of York, has been appointed as the new Chair of Yorkshire Universities. Professor Jeffery takes up the role at a significant time for Yorkshire Universities (YU), where he will oversee the delivery of the recently launched YU 2025–2030 Strategy. Bringing extensive strategic engagement experience from …
A new Higher Education Compact has been signed by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and higher education institutes in York and West Yorkshire. The Compact represents a commitment between the region’s higher education institutes (HEIs) and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to work together to stimulate inclusive economic growth, drive innovation, and enhance social and …
Powering Place Unlocking Potential Yorkshire Universities (YU), the representative body for universities and higher education institutions in Yorkshire, has today (Thursday 25 September) published a new five-year strategy that will amplify regional strengths, unlock new investment and ideas, and strengthen partnership work to help drive benefits and positive impacts for people, places and business. The …
The AI Research Development Network (AI.RDN+) A joint project by the University of Leeds and Aston University has been awarded £3.4m by the Research England Development Fund to set up a network to assess publicly available artificial intelligence (AI) tools for PhD research. The AI Research Development Network (AI.RDN+) will bring together 20 universities from …