Question: Can you tell me about the work of Million+?
Pam Tatlow: We are a university think-tank. This means we work to help solve complex problems in higher education and to ensure that policy reflects the potential of the UK's world class university system.
Question: Million+ was previously CMU, why the change?
Pam Tatlow: We were the Coalition of Modern Universities, and were later known as CMU, campaigning for mainstream universities. We consulted with our universities and other stakeholders and they wanted us to do more and to do it differently.
This is why we are changing our focus and our name. We became Million+ because it reflects what we have achieved and the size of our ambition, and it reminds people just how influential we are.
Every year we reach and touch the lives of millions of people in the UK and in over 140 other countries - students, industry, small businesses, health, education, governments and local communities.
Question: How are you launching this change?
Pam Tatlow: We're launching at the Atrium, near Parliament. The secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills, John Denham, has agreed to be our key speaker.
We will have speakers from all of the other main parties, the president of the National Union of Students, Gemma Tumelty, and we're very pleased that Sadiq Khan who is the member of Parliament for Tooting, and a graduate of one of our universities, as a host.
Question: What will be the key aims of Million+?
Pam Tatlow: We are a major force in higher education. Our students and graduates are the entrepreneurs, the business people, the scientists, the artists, the engineers, the teachers, and the health and care professionals who are building the modern world.
They are all ages, races and backgrounds and they represent the dynamism and diversity of modern society. They study and work in the UK and countries throughout the world.
We are a major force in higher education. Our institutions educate half of the UK’s higher education students each year and have helped three million more people to achieve graduate qualifications. These institutions lead on curriculum design, innovation and research which respond to the needs of the modern world.
We will be focusing on policy papers, discussion forums and partnership projects, bringing together students, employers and other experts - and we will be lobbying governments and other stakeholders on how they can harness the potential of the UK's world class university system.
Question: What will be looking to do in 2008?
Pam Tatlow: We will be saying more about the transnational education partnerships and research collaborations in which we are involved in over 140 countries outside of the UK, the contribution of higher education to the creative industries which are a great success story for Britain and more about how the skills and the innovation and research agendas are and can be linked.
Question: What are the most pressing issues facing universities today?
Pam Tatlow: Everybody wants to ensure that we meet the challenges of our changing society. As a think-tank, Million+ will be emphasising the need to fund the flexible provision and support necessary to broaden participation and add value to the economy.
It is vital to the economy that we provide the education that keeps businesses and services going, we want to help and we do help everyone.
Question: Do you feel government really listens to your concerns about universities?
Pam Tatlow: Government is increasingly aware of the whole range of work done by all universities. We will continue to promote that work through policy papers, discussions and public forums. We hope that the government and all stakeholders will listen and respond positively to these concerns.
Question: Do you have a final message for ePolitix.com's readers?
Pam Tatlow: Million+ will be leading the university agenda. Our member institutions are vital to the economy. We provide the education and research to keep business and public services going – and we help everyone to reach their full potential.
