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The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Worcester will host a series of fascinating talks at the hugely popular Hay Festival, widely regarded as one of the world's top literary festivals.

The Hay Festival takes place in the picturesque market town of Hay on Wye, Wales, over 11 days from May 26^th and June 5^th.

The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Worcester series of talks begins on Friday, May 27^th with a talk at 1pm centred around the future of Higher Education in the UK.

Titled ‘’, the talk will explore why in recent times universities have fallen out of favour with Government ministers and the media, and what can the sector do to prove its worth and help the nation in the recovery from the pandemic and beyond.

The panel will consist of the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Worcester’s Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor David Green CBE DL, Dr Diana Beech, Chief Executive of London Higher, and Richard Brabner, Director of the UPP Foundation. It will be Chaired by Jane Britton, Director of Communications and External Affairs at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½.

On Thursday, June 2^nd at 1pm, the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ will host a talk titled ‘. Building on from the recent publication of a book of the same title, the talk will see experts discuss how education settings can help to tackle the issue of student suicide.

The panel features Rosie Tressler OBE, Chief Executive of Student Minds, Professor Jo Smith, Emeritus Professor at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Worcester, Nic Streatfield, Deputy Director of Student Services at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of East London, and will be chaired by the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Worcester’s Acting Pro Vice Chancellor Students, Dr Tim Jones.

Finally, the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ will host a third talk on Friday, June 3^rd at 11.30am exploring .

The panel of speakers will explore how schools can cater for all children. The panel includes Worcester MP and Schools Minister, Robin Walker, Birmingham Poet Laureate and Assistant Headteacher, Casey Bailey, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Worcester graduate, Alex Giles, along with the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½'s Rebecca Foster MBE and Lerverne Barber, co-authors of Physical Education for Young People with Disabilities, a handbook that supports teachers and trainee teachers to be more inclusive in their practice when planning and teaching PE.

For tickets to any of the events please visit the Hay Festival website at