University of Sunderland launches institute to drive economic and social inclusion

Building a society that is more socially and economically inclusive is at the heart of a new Institute launched at the University of Sunderland.

The Institute for Economic and Social Inclusion (IESI) brings together research, practice, learning and place-making activity from across the University, addressing issues such as the causes and consequences of socio-economic exclusion, precarious communities, inclusive growth and equality of opportunity.

The aim is to inform policy and interventions that deliver local, regional and national impact for marginalised communities across Sunderland, the wider North East and the UK.

The cost-of-living crisis, rising inequality, and the need to address economic and social inclusion have all become high-profile in recent years, with a prominent focus on policy to tackle these challenges.

Sunderland and the wider region have been extensively impacted by uneven economic and social opportunity, impacted further by wider global factors. Against this backdrop of rising inequality, economic and social inclusion is morally compelling and socially urgent.

The Institute will draw on the University’s long-standing and deep commitment to widening participation and equality. It will also draw on the University’s impactful and wide-ranging research excellence from across all faculties as well as its extensive external partnerships with public, private and third sector organisations.

Underpinning all of this is a community-led practice-based approach to understanding the long-standing and pervasive issues of economic and social exclusion. It is the combination of these factors that will allow The Institute to bring a new voice to national and regional policy debates on these topics and to inform new approaches and policy solutions.

Creating IESI in Sunderland provides an opportunity to build on existing partnerships and to grow the University’s local, regional and national influence and impact, as well as having an immediate, sustained and meaningful impact on marginalised and excluded communities.

Tim Pain, director of the Enterprise and Innovation service at the University of Sunderland, said: “Creating The Institute for Economic and Social Inclusion was the next logical step in our evolution. It provides an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on the research and knowledge exchange environment at our University and our important role in promoting economic and social inclusion.”

The ambitions of the new Institute will be driven forward by a new senior appointment, Professor Graham Thrower, who will lead research and knowledge exchange across the University in the field of economic and social Inclusion and will provide strategic leadership and guidance to establish the institute regionally, nationally and internationally.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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