UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 26 JULY
The first British female Home Secretary says her return to Government following Labour’s landslide General Election win is a sign that “new opportunities arise throughout our lives” as she received her honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University (BCU) today (Friday 26th July).
As the new Minister of State for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, Baroness Jacqui Smith also says she intends to champion the “enormous potential” of UK universities following recent concerns about their effectiveness.
“Our universities are central to providing opportunity for students and growth of the economy,” she said. “I want to work with universities like BCU and partners in the Higher and Further Education system to champion their enormous contribution and safeguard it for the future.
“These qualifications will provide graduates with the best possible springboard for the future.”
Baroness Smith first became a Government minister in 1999, and served in the Education, Health, Industry and Equality departments, before being appointed Home Secretary in 2007.
“My return shows that new opportunities arise throughout our lives and we need to be prepared for them,” said Baroness Smith, who left Parliament in 2010.
Since then, she has spent time working on projects to promote democracy and development parliaments, including in countries such as Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon.
The former MP for Redditch was Chair of one of the largest NHS Trusts in England, University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) from 2013 to 2021.
BCU has a close working relationship with UHB, which provides the University’s nursing, midwifery and allied healthcare professional students with valuable work placements.
“I’m proud to be receiving my award alongside students who will go on to work in the health system,” said Baroness Smith. “Working with NHS Trusts has convinced me that motivated and skilled professional are key for the future ofthe NHS.”
On taking up her new government role, Baroness Smith has had to step down from previous roles including chairing Barts Health NHS Trust, Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust, Sandwell Children’s Trust and the Jo Cox Foundation.