Editor’s note: The Conversation’s operation in the UK is based at UCL in London, where around half of the 25-strong editorial team have desks. It is a physical representation of our integrated position within the institution and the UK Higher Education sector.
We were founded in the UK in 2013, to channel research-based knowledge to the wider public. More than 70 UK institutions are now members of the project, along with 13 worldwide. That means we’re keenly aware of the challenges facing the sector, as well as the incredible value it brings to society as a whole. Here, Michael Spence, President & Provost of UCL, writes about the necessity for higher education institutions to engage with their communities, and universities’ role in national and local life.
