Schedule

Schedule in detail

Part 1 - Arrival

08:30 – 09:45 - Breakfast roundtables
Partner hosted, invite-only

09:15 – 10:00 - Arrivals and refreshments

10:00 – 10:05 - Welcome to The Venn
University Leaders Forum Co-Chairs

Part 2 - Inspire and Inform

10:05 – 10:55 - As Others See Us - perspectives on higher education from beyond the sector
Jonathan Ashworth, Chief Executive, Labour Together
Rt. Hon Greg Clark, Former Secretary of State and Executive Chair, Warwick Innovation District, The University of Warwick Innovation District
Mike Innes, Senior Manager, Government Funding and University Collaboration, Jaguar Land Rover

Chaired by: Kirsty Walker, Vice-President External Engagement, University College London

10:55 - 11:45 - Lessons from across the Pond… reflections on the situation in the US and North America
Andrea Farquhar Chief Executive, Internal and External Engagement 2023-2025, McMaster University (Canada)
Alistair Jarvis CBE - Pro-Vice Chancellor, (Partnerships and Governance), University of London, Former CEO Universities UK and incoming CEO, Advance HE.
Ian Wiggins - Director of International, The Royal Society

Chaired by: Professor Rachel Sandison OBE, Deputy Vice-Chancellor - External Engagement and Vice Principal - External Relations, University of Glasgow

11:45 - 12:00 - Universities and the Mission for Growth - understanding clusters, innovation and the new economy
Alex Craven, CEO, The Data City

The Data City have revolutionised the way the economy is measured and mapped - with Real-Time Industry Classifications (RTICs) giving policymakers and investors a far greater understanding of what companies do and where they do it.

Following their development of the UK’s first Innovation Cluster Mapping Tool for the Department for Science, Innovation, this showcase session from The Data City will provide an overview of the next generation of this cluster analysis. It will frame how local and national policymakers will see the new economy - and the opportunity for the higher education sector.

If UK universities are to deliver on the Mission for Growth set by the Government, the first step is to better understand their role in creating, growing and securing investment into the clusters of innovation that will shape the future economy.

Kindly supported by The Data City.

Part 3 - Interact

12:00 – 13:15 - Lunch and partner-hosted roundtables (invite-only)

Part 4 - Respond

13:15 – 14:30 - Universities and geopolitics: table-top scenario response sessions
Developed adjacent to the UK Government and in partnership with other sector partners.

Jamie Arrowsmith, Director, Universities UK International
Georgina Ayre, Deputy Director for Global Research and Innovation, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
S&T Network Officers/ FCDO Desk Officers, Names/ areas tbc
Fran Davies, Head of Global Science, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Ben Moore, Head of Policy (International), Russell Group
Ian Wiggins, Director of International Affairs, Royal Society
Jenny Johnson, Director of Research and Innovation, Loughborough University

Chaired by: Alex Favier, Founder and Director, Favier Ltd

Session partners: The Royal Society, Russell Group, Universities UK International

14:30– 15:00 - Refreshments

Part 5 - Solve

15:00 - 15:55 - Practical solutions to thorny problems

Unconference-style session that will see delegates pick a ‘thorny problem’ facing the sector and work together to workshop a series of practical solutions to each of them. The challenges will be available to delegates to ‘up-vote’ in advance of the Leaders Forum and each will be ‘sponsored’ and facilitated by members of our Advisory Circle and special guests.

Fiona Blair, Director of External Relations, University of Reading
Dr Malcolm Butler, Vice-President and Director of Global Engagement, University of Sheffield
Sarah Chaytor, Director of Research Strategy and Policy, University College London
James Coe, Associate Editor, Wonkhe
Joan Concannon, Director of External Relations, University of York
Alex Favier, Founder and Director, Favier Ltd
Professor Jennifer Hudson, Vice-Provost (Faculties), University College London
Alistair Jarvis CBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Partnerships and Governance), University of London
Jennifer Johnson, Director of Research and Innovation, Loughborough University
Ben Jordan, Director of Strategy, UCAS
Debbie McVitty, Editor, Wonkhe
Professor Rachel Mills, Senior Vice President (Academic), King's College London
Andrew Monk, Executive Director of Global Engagement, University of Bristol
Rajay Naik, Chief Executive Officer, Skilled Education
Professor Rachel Sandison OBE, Deputy Vice Chancellor - External Engagement and Vice Principal - External Relations, University of Glasgow
Dr Helen Turner, Director, Midlands Innovation
Kirsty Walker, Vice-President External Engagement, University College London

Part 6 - Reflect

16:00 – 16:55 - From the VC’s desk…
Roundtable discussions based on real challenges set by UK university Vice-Chancellors

Professor Tim Dunne, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Surrey
Professor Josie Fraser, Interim Vice-Chancellor, The Open University
Professor Adam Habib, Vice-Chancellor, SOAS University of London
Professor Charlie Jeffery, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of York
Professor Helen Laville, Incoming Vice-Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University and Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Kingston University
Professor Christoph Lindner, President and Vice-Chancellor, Royal College of Art
Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of St Andrews
Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Glasgow
Professor Jane Norman, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Nottingham
Professor Steve Olivier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Robert Gordon University
Professor Sasha Roseneil, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Sussex
Professor Julie Sanders, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Royal Holloway, University of London
Professor Sally Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor, Birkbeck, University of London

From the Provost’s desk
Professor Rachel Mills, Senior Vice President (Academic), King’s College London

16:55 - 17:00 - Thanks and concluding remarks
University Leaders Forum Co-Chairs

Part 7 - Relax

17:30 - 20:30 - The Venn Garden Party - kindly supported by The Data City

Stirling Square Garden, Prince Philip House (Home of the Royal Academy of Engineering), 3 Carlton House Terrace

20:00 – late - Partner dinners
Optional dinners hosted by partners, invite-only

Find out more about our speakers.