Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Education and Skills, visits UCL

Professor Malcolm Grant, President and Provost of UCL, today (7 Dec) hosted a visit to UCL by the Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State for Education and Skills.

The purpose of the visit was to demonstrate the core activity of a modern UK research-intensive university such as UCL, and demonstrate how its research activity ties in with its teaching mission.

In the course of the visit, Ruth Kelly visited laboratories, and met with leading researchers, post-docs, PhDs and undergraduates. The visit took in UCL's Institute of Women's Health; the Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, that is working to develop the next generation of biopharmaceuticals aimed at developing vaccines and treatments for types of cancer and tissue damage; and Professor Helen Fielding's Ultrafast Laser Group in Chemistry.

Provost Grant said: "I am naturally delighted that the Secretary of State has come to UCL, to see some of the truly innovative work going on here.

"The research-intensive universities are one of the great success stories of this country and must be a matter of great pride to Government ministers. We believe that a powerful world-class research capability provides the ideal environment for educating the talented students that we are fortunate to attract to UCL. This visit demonstrates, I believe, the government's recognition of the importance of research-led teaching activity in such institutions."

Ms Kelly said: "I am delighted to have visited UCL, one of the leading research-intensive universities in the UK. It is exciting to see innovative, world-class research first hand."