David Willetts – The Past and Future of Universities

The Rt Hon. Lord Willetts FRS is the President of the Resolution Foundation. He served as the Member of Parliament for Havant (1992-2015), as Minister for Universities and Science (2010-2014) and previously worked at HM Treasury and the No. 10 Policy Unit.

David Willetts will begin by setting out the very different histories of universities In France and England, especially the pre-eminence of Oxbridge to explain some of the very significant and continuing differences between higher education in the two countries. He will reflect on his relations with French ministers during his time as Minister for Universities and Science. Then after explaining the controversial changes he brought in he will speculate on future trends shaping higher education in both countries. 

David Willetts has written widely on economic and social policy. His book “A University Education” is published by Oxford University Press. A second edition of his book on the Boomers and the young generation “The Pinch” was published in November 2019.

David Willetts is a visiting Professor at King’s College London, a Board member of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), a Board member of Surrey Satellites and of the Biotech Growth Trust. He is Chair of The Foundation for Science and Technology, an Honorary Fellow of Nuffield College, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society and the Chancellor of the University of Leicester.