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The head of one of London’s leading universities says top business people, Government workers and academics need to be seconded between the sectors if the UK economy is to improve.
David Rhind, vice chancellor at City University, London, told Personnel Today he believes greater co-operation and movement between the sectors, as happens in the US, will dramatically improve business.
“Getting people from one sector to come an work in another is a crucial success factor for the British economy, and, beyond that, the nature of society we are trying to build,” he said.
“I am very keen on the idea that we bring in people from different sectors and we our people to a [different] sector, preferably on secondment.”
In the US the system is more common. Laura Tyson, dean of London Business School, was a key architect of President Clinton's domestic and international policy agenda during his first term in office, and was appointed to the position from an academic background.
Rhind said working out a system to facilitate movement in the UK was difficult, and that he welcomed input from Personnel Today readers.
He said there are obstacles to overcome, academics are generally paid far less than business people, and many business people are out-of-touch with what modern universities are like.
He also invited business people to come to City University, either to visit or do some research, and said he is looking for places for academics to work. “It would be of benefit to all of us,” he said.
