Introduction to Technology Enhanced LearningSusie J. Schofieldhttps://plus.google.com/+UniversityOfDundee/posts/cUq8yQpuTDQ Regionalgrowth and universities a link that's more than academic With investing in the regions a priority for successive governments,what role could universities based in the Midlands play in revitalising theeconomic fortunes of their communities?International students are worth millions of pounds to regionaleconomies. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo Struggles for control within Westminster, and between Britain and theEuropean Union, have been so dramatic recently that plans for a different kindof power shift have gone relatively unnoticed. The former chancellor George Osborne announced in 2014greater devolution of power to the regions, with new metropolitanmayors and targeted investment. First came his vision of a northernpowerhouse with billions of pounds of investment in science, transport andinfrastructure. Then, two years ago this month, he announced his intention to make the Midlands an engine forgrowth.Osborne may have fallen victim to Brexit and Conservative party politicsbut the Midlands Engine Strategysurvives. In March, the new chancellor, Philip Hammond announced 392m ofgovernment investment in skills, connectivity and growth in theregion.Whether universities could do more to power this engine was the subjectof a roundtable discussion, hosted by the Guardian and supported by HSBC atBirmingham University. The discussion involved senior leaders from highereducation, government and business.Sir David Eastwood, the University of Birminghams vice-chancellor, saiduniversities economic impact on the region was already considerable. Hisuniversity contributes 3.5bn a year to the local economy, with every eightinternational students worth 1m. Leave aside the intellectual benefit, leaveaside the importance of international students to the kind of globaleducational community we are, just look at the multiplier, he said.Universities provide jobsProf Robert Allison, vice-chancellor of Loughborough University, saidhis institution was the single largest provider of jobs in the East Midlands,while Prof Geoff Layer, vice-chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton,said his university worked hard to make its students 80% of whom came fromwithin a 25 mile radius entrepreneurs, ready to set up their own businessesand generate economic growth.Daniel Howlett, head of large corporate banking at HSBC, said one reasonhis organisation had chosen to open its new national headquarters in Birminghamwas the concentration of universities in the area, providing a diverse set ofgraduates and apprentices. HSBC recognised education as a truedifferentiator, he said, able to have genuine impact on driving the regionaleconomy.But the participants agreed the potential of universities to power theMidlands Engine was not just financial.Andrew Carter, chief executive of the thinktank Centre for Cities, saidif economic impact was enough then simply doubling the size of institutionswould do the trick. Having a conversation that just describes a set of assetsdoesnt address the question of what prevents them from doing more, he said.For Prof Alec Cameron, vice-chancellor of Aston University,collaboration between universities, civic leaders and business was vital. MariaMachancoses, director of the Midlands Engine and Midlands Connect, which bringstogether local authorities, local enterprise partnerships and other keypartners, highlighted the importance of partnerships and collaborations betweendifferent sectors and players.Participants also agreed that universities played a key role in raisingaspiration.Layer said the aspirations of young people and their families was notthe highest in the Midlands Black Country an area with a high proportion ofadults with no qualifications.