Durham Castle Lecture Series
The Durham Castle Lecture Series is devoted to bringing high-profile speakers to Durham who can contribute to academic and public discussion on issues of global significance.
The presenters have all made an outstanding contribution to their fields. The series is made possible by a generous gift from Santander Universities, and the purchase of additional equipment for the Great Hall was supported by the generous donations of Castle alumni.
Videos are reproduced here by the kind permission of the Master.
-
Lord David Willetts
Thursday 8th February 2018
-
Durham Castle / Future of the University Lecture - Lord David Willetts 8/02/18, Durham Castle
The Rt Hon. Lord David Willetts is the Executive Chair of the Resolution Foundation. He served as the Member of Parliament for Havant (1992-2015), as Minister for Universities and Science (2010-2014) and previously worked at HM Treasury and the No. 10 Policy Unit.
Lord Willetts is a visiting Professor at King’s College London, Governor of the Ditchley Foundation, Chair of the British Science Association and a member of the Council of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. He is an Honorary Fellow of Nuffield College Oxford.
Lord Willetts has written widely on economic and social policy. His book ‘The Pinch’ was published in 2010. He has just completed a book on universities which will be published by Oxford University Press in November. The English higher education system is very unusual with nationwide competition for entry This drives excessive specialisation in English schools which is the biggest single challenge facing universities in the future. As well as its classic teaching and research roles, the university is increasingly significant in driving innovation and the local economy. This third mission has led some critics to argue that the university is being betrayed and these fears, especially prevalent in the Humanities, will be investigated. The key trends of globalisation and the digital revolution have not yet had a big impact on the university but they will. David Willetts’ book A University Education is published by OUP in November 2017.
-
