DMU's Vice-Chancellor prepares to take centre stage at global showcase

De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard believes that the GREAT Festival of Innovation in Hong Kong will give businesses the stability that they require for successful international trade.

The festival, taking place 21-24 March and run by the UK’s Department for International Trade, focuses on how creativity, technology and innovation will change the way we work, live, learn and play in the years to come.

DMU is the sole education partner for the GREAT campaign, and will be part of a packed programme that includes keynote speakers, panel discussions and masterclasses looking at how businesses can make the most of new technologies and markets while ensuring they promote sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices.

Professor Shellard will give a showcase speech to the festival audience on Wednesday 21 March, outlining #DMUglobal and #DMUworks as the modern, innovative ways DMU is offering students international learning experiences and creative, flexible opportunities to gain practical, vital work experience. He will also hold a Q&A with DMU students.

At the same time 350 second-year students from across all four faculties will be taking part in a #DMUglobal trip to help deepen their subject knowledge and experience new cultures in Hong Kong. It will also include a visit to the GREAT festival.

Speaking ahead of the festival, Prof Shellard has highlighted the importance of consistency and stability for both businesses and universities in the current climate following the EU referendum.

He said: “As we know there’s a degree of turbulence in the UK at the moment in the aftermath of the referendum, and it’s very important for universities and for British industry to demonstrate to the wider world that we absolutely are still up for international collaboration for business.

“There are a lot of misperceptions out there but, of course, there are a lot of uncertainties. Life has to go on. Businesses and universities need to have consistency and stability and the GREAT Campaign provides that for us.”

As the official education partner of GREAT, DMU is showcasing the innovations of students and graduates in the fields of fashion, Architecture, Game Art and cyber security. Top UK figures speaking at the festival include chef Tom Kerridge, lastminute.com co-founder Brent Hoberman, former GCHQ director Robert Hannigan and Blippar CEO Ambarish Mitra.