By Robert Van de Noort
Happy New Year from us all at the University of Reading.
I hope that 2024 brings you health, happiness and achievement, whatever your aims for the year may be.
The turning of the year is a natural time to set goals and make plans, whether in career, holiday or financial planning. In uncertain times, it can be helpful to have the assurance of having a plan to follow, and the knowledge that there is greater certainty around us.
The University has a role to play in this, serving as an anchor institution in Reading and Wokingham. For more than a century, and 98 years as a university, we have been a large group of people drawn from the local community, creating knowledge and sharing learning. And we support the local economy directly, too.
Our latest Economic Impact report, published late last year, shows the University contributes around £1 billion to the UK economy each year – a 24% increase since we last calculated our impact five years ago. About half of this economic boost stays right here in Reading and Wokingham, which is equivalent to nearly 3% of the local economy.
The increase has been driven by the economic contribution of our students, plus the impact of our commercial projects and the businesses and institutions we have brought to our area, such as Shinfield Studios and the British Museum.
In terms of employment, our University supports more than 12,000 jobs nationally. Around one in every 26 jobs in the whole of Reading and Wokingham can be traced back to the University.
Beyond the facts and figures, the report also found that the University supports the local, national and global economies by providing a constant supply of talented graduates to fill critical skills gaps, especially in education and healthcare.
We provide continuing professional development to train people working in business and public services.
And our research and knowledge exchange activities drive innovation for businesses small and large.
The economy isn’t our primary focus, though. I’m always heartened to see the cultural role we play in the area. Our staff and students from all over the world add to the cultural diversity of our boroughs, and of course, through partnership with local organisations, they work to bring about positive social change.
A global university depends on its strong local roots. We have connections with almost every country in the world, but we will always be from, and of, the people of Reading and Wokingham.
We could not make any of this impact, economically, culturally or socially, without our community’s support.
To all our partners and local residents who have helped us over the past year: thank you. We look forward to strengthening these bonds in the year ahead.
Professor Robert Van de Noort is the vice-chancellor of the University of Reading
