The campaign, run by Universities UK, highlights the role that higher education institutions have played during and beyond the pandemic.
Date: 27 May 2021
London Met is proud to support Universities UK's #GettingResults campaign, which highlights the vital role that UK universities have played in the country's response to the many challenges faced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This role has included training frontline workers, supporting local communities, contributing to cutting edge research, and so much more.
During the pandemic, London Met has made major contributions to the local community and national efforts in a variety of ways, for example:
- London Met's student dietitians supported the NHS by joining the temporary HCPC register, for the crucial work of developing tube feeding plans for patients requiring ventilation.
- London Met PhD graduate Dr Roham Makki contributed his expertise on associations between respiratory function and obesity to Public Health England, to aid the pandemic response.
- A new skills-building partnership between London Met and Hackney Council is in development, to ensure that young graduates have access to the available employment and training opportunities available to them.
- A research partnership between London Met and the Whittington Hospital NHS Trust aided the efforts against Covid-19 by providing translation services in the clinical trial process.
- An interdisciplinary team is exploring the impact of Covid-19 on LGBTQI+ communities in Lambeth, in partnership with Lambeth Council.
- A joint research project between London Met and the NHS will help to understand why Londoners are the least likely to take a Covid vaccine.
Sophie Cloutterbuck, Director of London Engagement at London Met said, "Universities have played a hugely important part in the national effort to tackle Covid-19. We're delighted to support the #GettingResults campaign, which places significant emphasis on how universities can work with local partners to make change - something that we do every day through our flagship civic engagement programme, the London Met Lab: Empowering London.
"Our own academics, students and professional staff have made significant efforts in a variety of areas; from nutrition, to translation, to sociology, to civic outreach. We're so proud of the support and proactivity that our community, and university communities across the country, have shown through this uncertain and ever-changing time."
Professor Julia Buckingham CBE, Universities UK's President, said: "By working closely with their partners, including local government and employers, universities will play a vital role in the UK's post-Covid recovery. Together, they can contribute significantly to future economic success and improve lives. Moving forward it is important that employers fully take advantage of universities' support and develop productive relationships so the nation can bounce back stronger from the pandemic."
The #GettingResults campaign offers a renewed commitment from universities to do even more to reach out to new partners locally and nationally and deliver an even greater impact than has already been seen. The campaign calls for policymakers and employers to recognise universities' integral role in building economic and social prosperity and increasing the diversity of talent in the country.
