SPEAKING WITH CONFIDENCE: THE IMPACT OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

TUESDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2011

Committee Room 2, Palace Of Westminster, Westminster, London

Cromwell Green Entrance (the main public entrance): no. 6 on the map at:  http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/faxmap.pdf 

2.15pm – 4.30pm

See C Mahoney Comments on event

 http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/alldisplay?type=news&newid=2011/speaking_with_confidence_speech_CM_Sept2011&site=york

PANEL

Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science

Professor Craig Mahoney, Chief Executive Higher Education Academy

Liam Burns, NUS President

Panel Chair: Professor Lord Norton of Louth

The future of the social sciences is a hot topic within academia. This conference will look at a range of issues surrounding the impact of the social sciences on government, business, communities and public debates. From pressures on the utility of knowledge, changes in pedagogic delivery, the employability of graduates, to recent changes to fees and income generation (and much else in between), the social sciences seem to be at a pivotal point. While there might be evidence to suggest that increased vocationalism is pushing out social science degrees ahead of the removal of public funding from such courses, this conference will seek to move the discussion beyond the contemporary focus over public funding.  Social science knowledge is a valuable pursuit in its own right and contributes to the general social good.  Virtually all policy innovation is the result of academic social science research. Social science disciplines are dynamic, student numbers are high and all indicators are that UK research in these subjects is world class. The social sciences fundamentally define who we are and impacts on all aspects of society.  The panel will lead a discussion on the impact of social sciences and its future in changing times.

The event is free to attend but you will need to register online: 

http://www.bhamonlineshop.co.uk/browse/extra_info.asp?compid=1&modid=2&prodid=342&deptid=17&catid=4

For further information please contact Frances Worrall ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) 0121 414 2995