Abstract

Since 1978, Clare Hall has hosted the Ashby Lectures, a widely acclaimed summer event in Cambridge. Named after one of the founders of Clare Hall, the lectures focus on the presentation and discussion of ideas that inspire human values in a wider sense: values that relate, in compelling and contemporary ways, to philosophical questioning about the nature of life and society.

In this years lecture; Professor Andrew Hamilton will examine the influence of universities on wider society, locally, nationally and internationally. Drawing on his 30 years’ experience working in US universities he will look at whether UK universities can learn from their American peer institutions. In doing so, he will explore the impact of UK universities in terms of their teaching, research and so-called ‘third stream’ activity and how, for example, restrictions on their ability to recruit the brightest and best academics and students from around the globe will not only have adverse consequences for the UK higher education sector and the UK economy, but the international knowledge economy as a whole.