Higher Education: Staffordshire

In the House of Commons, a minister delivered a statement highlighting the significance of Keele University, located in the constituency of Newcastle-under-Lyme. The minister began by wishing a happy 40th birthday to their colleague, the Member of Parliament for Stafford, who was present in the Chamber. The minister expressed their privilege in representing Keele University, which is one of the two universities in Staffordshire, the other being the University of Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent. The minister noted that 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of Keele University's establishment as the first new university of the 20th century. The minister described Keele University's founding vision, which was to produce graduates with not only technical and specialist knowledge, but also an understanding of the social and political landscape. The minister stated that this original ethos remains at the core of the university's mission, with a global network of over 100,000 alumni in 120 countries creating a positive impact across the world. Keele University was praised for its excellence in both teaching and research, with a gold award in the teaching excellence framework and high research intensity in the most recent research excellence framework. The minister highlighted Keele's leadership in sustainability, which has earned the university the recognition of being named the global sustainability institution of the year in 2021. The minister emphasized Keele University's significant economic impact, not only through direct employment of around 2,000 people but also through its spending with local suppliers, contractors, and neighboring businesses. The university is one of the largest employers in Newcastle-under-Lyme, with 39% of its workforce residing in the borough and a further 31% living in Stoke-on-Trent. The minister praised Keele's commitment to being a good neighbor, having provided more than 2,000 support interactions with local organizations since 2016.