Inspirational visitors show support for Universities Week

Distinguished actor Thelma Barlow has given her support to Universities Week, speaking about the positive impact Teesside has on its students and the wider community.

It’s Universities Week this week and the national initiative will highlight the essential role of universities in the UK and their influence on the economy, culture, society and the environment.

Dr Barlow, famous throughout the UK as Coronation Street’s Mavis Riley, was one of a number of influential visitors to Teesside who have praised the Universities Week initiative.

Others include Olympic medallist Alison Mowbray, international author Adele Parks and Andy Haldane, Executive Director, Financial Stability, at the Bank of England.

Speaking during a visit to open our creative arts week, Dr Barlow said: ‘The University has had an immense impact on the people of Middlesbrough – it radiates this good will and good education.

‘It’s lovely to see the students starting off and being full of hope and excitement and full of ideas. They obviously get that from the way they are treated here – it is a university that is quite unique.’

Alison Mowbray said she was really pleased to be supporting Universities Week.

She added: ‘Going to university was probably the biggest break that I got – it really opened my horizons. There are a lot of opportunities here at Teesside University and coming here will really open doors for people.’

Adele Parks said: ‘Going to university is the springboard for so many people. It’s an enormous opportunity and a great achievement. We should celebrate and it is fantastic there is such a thing as Universities Week.’

Five themes for the week Universities Week is split into five themes - sharing big ideas, big ideas for business, big ideas for society, big ideas for the future, inside big ideas.

We are supporting Universities Week with a whole host of events, including a special preview of our new £13m Darlington campus and free talks on media and design.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Henderson CBE said: ‘We at Teesside University want to see the University right at the heart of everything that is going on in our region. Universities Week is a chance for us to share some of the things we are doing to make the University a place of learning for students of all ages and backgrounds, and an organisation that provides the best possible assistance to business and employers.’

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