Universities Week 2012

Newcastle University is supporting the third annual Universities Week, which aims to increase public awareness of the wide and varied role of the UK’s universities.

This year’s campaign will look at the contribution that our universities make – and have always made – to the Olympic movement, the sports industry and society as whole.

Throughout the week events will take place at universities across the UK to showcase the diverse ways in which universities have engaged with the Olympic and Paralympic Games– from sports training, research and development to the university-led Cultural Olympiad and volunteering projects that will support the London 2012 sporting events.

The University’s Cochrane Park football ground is highlighted in a report published by Universities UK as one of only four UK universities to host an Olypic training ground. It will welcome men’s football teams from World Cup holders Spain and Brazil as well as Mexico, Switzerland, South Korea, Gabon, Japan, Honduras, Morocco and New Zealand.

Women’s teams who will train there are Canada, Sweden, France and Columbia.

In addition a range of events are taking place, opening up the campus through public lectures, open evenings and a literary festival.

The Festival of Belonging, organised by Newcastle University’s Centre for Literary Arts, is a week-long celebration of diverse literary voices. Taking place from Monday 30th April to Sunday 6th May across Newcastle-Gateshead, it will include literary events, workshops, film screenings, competitions and more.

Universities Week 2012 follows a successful campaign in 2011, which saw 110 universities and 52 renowned ambassadors take part in showcasing the work of the higher education sector.

This year the week looks to be an even bigger success with a series of high profile ambassadors including Seb Coe, John Inverdale and Dame Kelly Holmes helping to highlight how universities benefit everyone, whether or not they have been to university themselves. Hear what the ambassadors have to say at //www.youtube.com/universitiesweek2012

Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive, Universities UK, said: “From supporting top athletes to providing training facilities for students and local communities, producing world-class sporting research and hosting Olympic teams from across the globe, universities are working together to contribute to the UK’s Olympic effort.

“Once again with Universities Week we hope to show that it is not just students who benefit from university, but the whole of UK society.”??For more information on events happening near you and around the UK visit www.universitiesweek.org.uk

published on: 30 April 2012