29.08.2003
Higher Education Minister Alan Johnson will officially open a national biomedical science conference at the University of Brighton's Falmer campus on 2 September.
He has been invited by the organisers of the annual conference of the Heads of University Centres for Biomedical Sciences (HUCBMS) to speak about the government’s latest plans for Higher Education, outlined in its recent White Paper.
Alan Johnson, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education said,
"We could sit back and let higher education drift along for the next decade. But that would be wrong because the world is changing faster than ever and higher education must move with it."
"Our White Paper will help expand and widen participation while ensuring graduate repayments are fair and affordable. It will promote and reward good teaching, increase investment in research excellence and encourage partnerships between businesses and higher education institutions. This will enable us to compete with the best universities around the world, provide students with a better quality experience and benefit our economy."
Sir David Watson, the university's Vice-Chancellor will also present a talk looking back at the Dearing Report of 1997 and what has happened subsequently to its key recommendations.
Sir David, who was a member of Lord Dearing's committee, will identify a number of positive developments since 1997, especially in terms of access and the funding of science. The government's plans for a shift from up-front fees to a graduate contribution also completes a part of the Dearing agenda. But he will also point to the continued financial pressures on institutions, especially in comparison with our key international competitors.
The chief aim of HUCBMS is to provide a voice, and forum for discussion, for British and overseas universities providing BSc and MSc degrees in Biomedical Science primarily directed at producing laboratory scientists for the NHS, and conducting research.
The School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science at the University is hosting this year's conference, with its key topics being the White Paper on Higher Education; delivering graduates to the biomedical science profession, and research in the biomedical sciences.
The University of Brighton's School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences continues to build upon substantial achievements in recent years with the deserved recognition of the School's world class research in the last national Research Assessment Exercise in 2001.
The 5-rating for research recognises a number of recent scientific breakthroughs involving members of staff including: the correction of premature ageing in cells; the development of rapid phage-based diagnostic methods for TB; novel drug-targeting systems for arthritis; new biomedical materials for ophthalmic and orthopaedic applications and an internationally validated medicines belief questionnaire.
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
