Three men in suits and a woman are standing next to posters of the ruskin college, they are all over the age of 40 and are smiling toward the camera.
Three men in suits and a woman are standing next to posters of the ruskin college, they are all over the age of 40 and are smiling toward the camera.

Ruskin College ready to ‘step-up’

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Ruskin College is ‘ready to step-up to tackle inequality’ according to the Vice-Chancellor of the University who took on the historic institution last summer. 

The comments from Professor Peter John CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of West London, followed the launch of a new research colloquium programme at the Oxford-based college that saw influential speakers discuss ‘Can Levelling Up Really Make a Difference to Inequality?’

Speaking to an invited audience of academics, policymakers and local residents, Professor Peter John, Vice-Chancellor at UWL and Principal of Ruskin College, said afterwards:

This was a fascinating event with many viewpoints and insights from some of the country’s best minds. Ruskin College, with its long history of free-thinking and empowerment of people who wouldn’t ordinarily set foot on a university campus, was the perfect venue.” 

During the seminar, guests such as Phillip Collins, from the New Statesman, argued that years of austerity had undone much of the good created through regeneration programmes. He said:

The idea that in eight years we’ll be able to fix things that have been embedded for years is probably a fond hope.” 

Professor Jonathan Michie, President of the Kellogg College, Oxford University, pointed out that inequality in Britain is worse than in many other comparative countries.  

The event was convened by UWL’s Centre for Inequality and Levelling Up who will be producing a report bringing together the perspectives of all the speakers which will be published in the summer. 

Guests included:

  • Professor Sir Paul Collier, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, Director of the Oxford Martin Initiative on Regional Levelling-up and Member of government’s Levelling Up Advisory Group  

  • Professor Jonathan Michie, President, Kellogg College 

  • Professor Peter John CBE, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of West London and Principal, Ruskin College  

  • Councillor Susan Brown, Labour Leader of Oxford City Council and Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth, Economic Recovery, and Partnerships  

  • Phillip Collins, New Statesman 

  • Matt Leach, Chief Executive, Local Trust  

  • Professor Graeme Atherton, Head Centre for Inequality and Levelling Up, University of West London  

Find out more about Ruskin College.

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