Stirling Management Centre, University of Stirling, Scotland,  4 November 2011.

This event will build on the success of the LLAKES events in 2009 and 2010 which used the BBC’s ‘Question Time’ format to stage a debate on the role of education and training in a time of recession and in the context of growing inequalities across the UK.  Central to the debate will be the extent to which social cohesion is threatened as a result of inequality. Working in collaboration with Professor John Field of the Institute of Education at the University of Stirling and Patrick Watt of Skills Development Scotland (SDS), this event enables LLAKES to present its research findings to policymakers (national and local), education and training practitioners, and business leaders in Scotland, and to representatives of these groups from Northern Ireland.  Following presentations by LLAKES’ Director, Professor Andy Green and other LLAKES researchers, there will be inputs and a response from Scottish and Northern Ireland colleagues. This will then be followed by a ‘Question Time’ debate involving the audience.  The event will be held at the Stirling Management Centre, University of Stirling. An audience of up to 100 people is envisaged. Delegates will be sent a short briefing paper prior to the event and asked to send in suggested questions to act as an initial stimulus for discussion. The panel for the debate will comprise the LLAKES Director, Professor Andy Green, the Deputy Director, Lorna Unwin, Professor John Field and 3 representatives from the policy community in Scotland and Northern Ireland.  The topic is high on the agenda in both Scotland and Northern Ireland where youth unemployment and inequalities in relation to educational outcomes across the lifecourse are of growing concern.

To view the invitation click here

For reservations or further questions, please contact esrcfestival@stir.ac.uk.

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It will be held in London at the Institute of Education on Friday 18 November, 11am -5pm, Room 802.

The following speakers are confirmed:

John Bryson, University of Birmingham: ‘British Manufacturing beyond Deindustrialisation: Responding to Crisis and Recession through Innovation, Adaptation and Services’
Diane Perrons, London School of Economics: ‘Regional Performance and Inequality: linking economic and social development through a capabilities approach’
Lorna Unwin, Institute of Education: ‘Apprenticeship as a vehicle for social and economic regeneration’
Andy Green, Institute of Education: ‘Education, opportunity and social cohesion’

Mia Gray, University of Cambridge: ‘Inclusive Regional Development?: Social Networks in an Age of Austerity’

If you would like to attend, please contact Laura James (l.james@ioe.ac.uk). Presentations and reports on the meetings will follow on the EGRG website in due course. The Registration fee this year (including a sandwich lunch and refreshments) is £30 academic staff, free to unwaged / postgraduate students.

 We particularly welcome research students in the broad area of economic geography.