Universities Pledge to Train 181,000 Students for Modern Health and Care System

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The Russell Group of 24 universities, including Durham University, has announced a new commitment to train 181,000 students by 2030 with the skills needed to support a modern health and care system. They also plan to intensify support for life sciences innovation, aiming to help secure around £5 billion in external investment into new life sciences companies by 2030.

Why it matters

This pledge by leading UK universities will help address critical workforce shortages in the health and care sectors, while also driving medical and technological advancements through increased life sciences innovation and commercialization. It represents a significant investment in building healthier communities across the country.

The details

The Russell Group universities will train doctors, nurses, midwives, engineers, social scientists, and technology specialists to support the modern health and care system. They also plan to remove barriers to help more disadvantaged students access these medical and health careers. Additionally, the universities will intensify support for life sciences innovation, growing the number and scale of spin-out businesses from their research base to help secure around £5 billion in external investment into new life sciences companies by 2030, up from £3 billion currently. This will accelerate the development of cutting-edge medicines, treatments, and technologies.

• The Russell Group universities have pledged to train 181,000 students with health and care skills by 2030.