The role of universities in the 21st Century will be explored during a talk at this year's Hay Festival.
Universities have been so successful in recent times that almost every city either has one, or wants one. But what are they for and how should they work for the public good as well as personal progress?
Professor David Green, Mick Donovan and Anne Hannaford, all from the ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥, will speak about how universities can be engines of inclusion, as well as excellence, drawing on the work at Worcester in developing The Hive and the ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ Arena.
Their talk is one of a series of four at the Hay Festival, one of the world's top literary festivals, being delivered by the ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ in celebration of its 70th anniversary this year. It will take place on Wednesday, June 1 at 1pm.
The Hive and the University Arena are two examples of how Worcester welcomes and actively works in partnership with the community.
The Hive is Europe's first fully integrated public and university library, and is now in the top 10 most visited libraries in the UK, having attracted over 3 million visitors since being opened by HM The Queen in 2012. It is an innovative concept, which sees higher education students working productively alongside local children, community groups, readers and researchers.
In the ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ Arena, the University has created the first indoor sports venue specifically designed to meet the needs of the wheelchair athlete. Like The Hive, it is a facility used by all sectors of the community, from the elite athletes of the national wheelchair basketball teams to grass roots sports clubs.
The University panel will share with the Hay Festival audience the vision behind these unique facilities and the University's growing ambitions to become one of the most inclusive organisations in the Country.
Other talks in the Hay Festival series include:
? Professor Maggie Andrews on "The Acceptable Face of Feminism: 100 Years of the Women's Institute" on Tuesday, May 31 at 10am.
? Professor Jo Smith on "The Shape We're In: Building Good Mental and Emotional Health" on Tuesday, May 31 at 11.30am.
? Professor Lisa Jones and colleagues from the Bipolar Disorder Research Network, who will be discussing our understanding of the condition, on Thursday, June 2 at 10am.