Queen Mary, University of London has been invited to become a member of the Russell Group of universities, with effect from August 2012. The invitation to join the Russell Group is an acknowledgment of Queen Mary’s quality and status as a top-class research-led institution. Queen Mary will join the Russell Group alongside fellow new members, the Universities of Durham, York and Exeter.
Queen Mary is one of now 24 leading UK universities represented by the Russell Group, that are committed to maintaining the very best research, an outstanding teaching and learning experience, excellent graduate employability and unrivalled links with business and the public sector.
Principal of Queen Mary, Professor Simon Gaskell said: “We are delighted to accept the invitation to join the Group. The Russell Group includes the top research-intensive universities in the UK.
”The invitation to join the Russell Group is a result of our achievements over the last decade, notably the considerable improvement in research strength across a broad academic range, acknowledged in the 2008 RAE and the expansion in student numbers with steadily increasing entry standards. These achievements have been made alongside our firm commitment to our local community and to widening participation.”
Director General of Russell Group Dr Wendy Piatt said: “I look forward to working with our new members to make sure the UK remains a global leader in higher education and continues to reap the economic and social benefits that our leading research-intensive universities provide.”
This story has been reported on BBC News, Times Higher Education, The Independent and Guardian.