Today, the Mayor of London and London Councils have launched the London Growth Plan, which sets out ambitions for productivity and growth in the capital. Launching the plan this morning, Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan started by celebrating London’s higher education sector and the capital’s unsurpassed achievement of being voted best student city in the world for the last six consecutive years.
London Higher welcomes the London Growth Plan and its recognition of the value and importance of higher education as a cornerstone of the capital’s success. As the representative body for higher education in London, we are particularly encouraged by the plan’s acknowledgment that London creates exceptional talent in key sectors of the economy, from life sciences to the creative industries. This talent is nurtured in London’s many higher education institutions – ranging from small, specialist conservatoires and research institutes through to world-leading multi-faculty universities.
Building on London’s status as the world’s biggest and best international student city, today’s plan recognises the importance of international education as major export. With more than a quarter of undergraduates and two-thirds of postgraduates coming from outside the UK, international students are vital to our universities’ success and London’s global influence. At London Higher, we made sure London was the first UK region to release its own international education strategy and we remain committed to rolling out our Study London campaign to showcase the full diversity of London’s higher education sector and encourage prospective students from across the world to experience student life in the capital.
We are pleased, too, to see acknowledgment of London universities’ leadership in social mobility and inclusion. Our institutions excel at educating and providing opportunities for Londoners from a diverse range of backgrounds. There is much alignment between our members’ efforts to widen participation in higher level learning and the objectives set out in the plan relating to more equitable access to work opportunities in London. Building on this will require even closer partnership between the Greater London Authority (GLA) and London’s higher education institutions to ensure a shared focus on driving social mobility, even as university funding is squeezed. London remains a magnet for global talent, attracting students and researchers from around the world. This mix of excellence, inclusivity, and international reach makes London’s higher education sector a natural partner in the GLA’s Inclusive Talent Strategy.
We are encouraged by the plan’s commitment to growing London’s exceptional research strengths and turning brilliant discoveries and inventions into global companies. As the European capital of AI, London attracts significant investment and produces the highest concentration of student start-ups and high-value spinouts in the UK. London’s universities are at the forefront of innovation, driving the capital’s leadership in life sciences, deep tech and climate tech. The research undertaken by the capital’s higher education institutions drives progress and prosperity right across the country, whilst the higher education sector’s combined strength in research, talent and investment mean it is uniquely placed to deliver breakthroughs that improve health outcomes, tackle climate challenges and drive economic growth. We therefore welcome the GLA’s support in cementing London’s position an originator at the frontier of innovation.
London Higher looks forward and is excited to be working alongside the Mayor of London, London Councils, central government and partners to deliver this ambitious plan for sustainable growth that harnesses the full potential of our world-class higher education sector.
