The Entrepreneurial University – an oxymoron or an engine of growth for the local economy?

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans Inaugural Lecture; Dylan will present "The Entrepreneurial University – an oxymoron or an engine of growth for the local economy?" Wednesday 2^nd July 2014 6pm-8:30pm venue: 2Q49 at the University of the West of England.

Whilst there are some who still consider universities to be ivory towers that are isolated from the realities of industry, many higher education institutions have adopted a more business-focused approach to their activities. Despite this, various government reports have shown that much remains to be done to ensure that the various activities generated by the university sector are maximised for the benefit of the UK economy. In his inaugural professorial lecture, Professor Jones-Evans will explore how some universities have, during the last two decades, transformed themselves into engines for innovation and growth. Drawing on his own research and various exemplars from around the World, he will examine how higher education can adopt a more entrepreneurial approach to its activities and, in doing so, make a real and sustained contribution to their local and regional economies.

Profile

Dylan Jones-Evans is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at Bristol Business School at the University of the West of England. He has held senior posts in various universities since 1996. Dylan is visiting professor of entrepreneurship at Turku University in Finland and has worked as consultant for the OECD, EU and other economic development bodies. He also served as Vice President (UK) for the European Council of Small Business. He has developed over £40 million of development projects and has attracted research grants from the ESRC, European Commission, Leverhulme Trust and Nuffield Foundation. He led the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) project in Wales for eight years. He has published over 100 academic articles within refereed journals, academic books and conferences. Along with Professor Sara Carter, he is the author of the best-selling textbook 'Enterprise and Small Business'.

He was the first chairman of Outlook Expeditions Ltd, a fast growing business and is the founder of the Wales Fast Growth Fifty - the annual barometer of entrepreneurship within Welsh business. He has been a special adviser to the House Of Commons Select Committee on Welsh Affairs, and a member of the boards of Finance Wales, the Institute of Welsh Affairs and the IOD in Wales. He is a trustee of Prime Cymru, one of the Prince of Wales' charities and is currently leading a major review to create a new Development Bank for Wales for the Welsh Government.

Dylan served as Chairman of the Welsh Conservatives' Economic Commission and sits on the Business Advisory Panel for the Secretary of State for Wales. He is also the only person to write a weekly column in the Western Mail and Daily Post – the two main newspapers in Wales and was responsible for leading the campaign to secure a star for Richard Burton on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He was awarded an OBE in 2013 in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

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Cost: Free
Contact: Chloe Hayward
Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 86386+44 (0)117 32 86386
E-mail: [email protected]