Creating Prosperity: the role of higher education in ... - Universities UK

Creating Prosperity: the role of higher educationin driving the UK’s creative economy11.0Foreword1.1 The creative economy is an area in which the UK can rightly claim to be a global leader. We havethe largest creative industries sector in Europe, accounting for more than seven per cent of GDPcompared to around 2.6 per cent for the EU as a whole, which continues to demonstrate strongeconomic growth and commercial and cultural success around the world.1.2 As the UK economy moves out of recession, the creative industries will be an increasingly importantdriver of economic recovery. A recent report by the Work Foundation identifies the creativeindustries as one of four key sectors that will lead economic growth in the future. This is due tothe strong potential for growth in creative industries markets, but also to the wider contribution ofthe creative sectors to other parts of the economy through innovation and spillover effects, and tothe attractiveness of our cities to different kinds of businesses and highly-skilled individuals(Work Foundation, 2010).1.3 Higher education is a fundamental driver of the creative economy. However, while national andregional strategies frequently acknowledge the important role of higher education in the creativesector, it is not always apparent that this role is fully recognised or well understood.1.4 With this in mind, Universities UK, supported by Skillset, Research Councils UK, Guild HE, the UnitedKingdom Arts and Design Institutions Association (UKADIA) and the Council for Higher Educationin Art & Design (CHEAD), commissioned a study into the role and contribution that HE makes tothe UK creative economy.1.5 The overall aim of the study was to provide an evidence-based account of the scope andimportance of the HE sector’s contribution to the creative economy and, where appropriate, tomake recommendations to government, industry and universities 8 . The research was focusedon two broad strands of activity:• research and innovation• skills, employability and entrepreneurship1.6 In line with the original brief, the study gives particular focus to the digital content and relatedindustries that underlie the fast-growing digital economy. Drawing clear boundaries within thecreative industries is problematic, and we recognise that the economic success of the creativeindustries is underpinned by the talent and vibrancy of the cultural sector as a whole. As a result,our research has given emphasis to the digital agenda, but not to the exclusion of the wider fieldsof the creative and cultural industries.1.7 There were several elements to the study process, including an extensive literature review, interviewswith a wide range of public sector, industry and higher education stakeholders, and case studiesexamining the different ways in which universities are engaging with the creative economy. Theemerging findings were then debated at a series of six focus group discussions held across the UKwith invited audiences comprising representatives from higher education, business and the publicsector. These discussions were extremely useful in refining our thinking and helping to frame broadareas for recommendations. They also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on theirown practice in light of the emerging findings.1.0 Foreword