Industry urged to help university

14 May 2007

Local businesses were urged to support NEWI in the last stage of its bid for full independent university status. The call came from Professor Michael Scott, Principal and Chief Executive of NEWI at the Institute’s annual general meeting, held yesterday (Monday 14 May) in Wrexham.

He told the packed meeting that the impact of the Institute on the local economy had been estimated as being in excess of £192 million per year when the additional income earned by local businesses as a result of employing NEWI graduates was included. As a result NEWI was fulfilling its aim of making a significant contribution to the social and economic development of the local community and of improving the employability of its graduates.

Professor Scott spoke of the long campaign undertaken by Wrexham to achieve borough status, achieved 150 years ago and compared that to the campaign for a university in Wrexham. Although its initial attempt to get a university college for North Wales situated in Wrexham 30 years after gaining borough status was unsuccessful, Wrexham did not give up and in 1887 established the Wrexham School of Science and Art, which over the years has transformed into NEWI.

He said that NEWI had economic, social and academic justification for university status and gave examples of the high quality research work, industrial collaboration and contributions made to social inclusion both by the Institute as a whole and in particular by its Social Inclusion Research Unit.

Speaking at the meeting Ian Lucas MP said “The activities NEWI undertakes exactly meet the government’s agenda. It is doing remarkable work and we should all support it in its efforts for university status.”

These remarks were echoed by other members of the audience including industrialists, politicians, civil servants and representatives from the public and voluntary sectors.

The annual meeting also saw the launch of the Institute’s Annual Review and provided an opportunity for members of the public to question the Principal of NEWI and the Chairman of the Institute’s Board of Governors.