1. UNICREDS Conference Sabhal Mor Ostaig June 2011 Can universities benefit rural communities Prof. Norman Sharp

2. Overview The traditional view of the impact of universities Models of rural development Models of university The contribution of UHI Key features of UHI Future sustainability

3. A model of economic impact UniversitiesEmployer/producerScottish economy Human capital Research and innovation consultancy Hub/cluster Prosperity Scotland Universities Scotland Donald McLellan 2006

4. University Scotland Conclusions HE in Scotland a £2b business employing 34K HE earns £400m from exports Private r of r between 11% and 17% Social r of r between 5% and 17% Research evidence on link between graduate population and productivity Investment in research results in r of r between 20% and 30%

5. Models of Rural Development Exogenous developmentEndogenous development Key principleEconomies of Scale & concentration Harnessing local resources for sustainable development Dynamic forceUrban growth pointsLocal initiatives & enterprise Functions of rural areasFood and primary products for expanding urban economies Diverse service economies Major rural development problemsLow productivity & peripherality Limited capacity for area/groups to participate in economic activity Focus of rural developmentAgricultural modernisation: encourage labour and capital mobility Capacity building (skills, institutions, infrastructure); overcoming exclusion Centre for Rural Economy

6. Economic impact of UHI: economy Direct contribution of FE/HE (direct) Direct contribution of research (direct) Other activities (direct) Purchase of g&s (supplier impact) Spending of wages (income impact) Spending of students (student spending)

7. Economic Impact of UHI: Labour market & business & key sector development Improved productivity (productivity) Students working PT (student work) Knowledge transfer and commersialisation Tourism visits from friends and family Tourism provision

8. Economic impact of UHI: individual development and sustainable development CPD Local capital investment (capital spend) Social capital through volunteering activities of staff and students

9. Impact 2009/10 – UHI area GVA (£)Employment (FTEs) Direct impacts (HE)49,383,6661,370 Wider impact (HE)118,471,455907 Sub-total – HE impacts167,855,1212,277 Direct impacts (FE)48,837,0331,527 Wider impacts (FE)136,202,523299 Sub-total – FE impacts185,039,5561,825 Total352,894,6774,102 Source: Biggar impact model

10. Social & Cultural impact Interacting – through provision of public space, provision of learning opportunities through LLL Interlinking communities and people throughout area acting as a focal point for activity. Impact on social cohesion and cultural identity Integrating – culture, heritage, history, language and character of region. Preserving a cornerstone of national identity

11. Key elements in UHI structure New university Of the region Of the sub-regions Part of US network Linked to key development agencies Links FE & HE Flexible accessible curriculum structure Targetted curriculum areas Research supporting local priorities

12. Sustainable development in UHI Sustaining vision Constitutional change: all for one and one for all Single door entry to the university in every location Research strategy with a focus on community and economic development FE/HE fusion Funding model that recognises the demands of supporting teaching, scholarship and research in a rural context