Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
From SR
History
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) brings together functions from two former departments:
- Science and innovation responsibilities from the Department of Trade and Industry.
- Skills, further and higher education from the Department for Education and Skills.
Roles
Responsibilities:
- Further and higher education
- Innovation
- Science and technology
- Intellectual property
- Supporting evidence-based policy
To ensure the wider personal, community and cultural benefits of education and science are supported, the Department will work closely with other departments (including the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR), Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) and Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and others).
Objectives:
- Accelerate the commercial exploitation of creativity and knowledge, through innovation and research, to create wealth, grow the economy, build successful businesses and improve quality of life.
- Improve the skills of the population throughout their working lives to create a workforce capable of sustaining economic competitiveness, and enable individuals to thrive in the global economy.
- Build social and community cohesion through improved social justice, civic participation and economic opportunity by raising aspirations and broadening participation, progression and achievement in learning and skills.
- Pursue global excellence in research and knowledge, promote the benefits of science in society, and deliver science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills in line with employer demand.
- Strengthen the capacity, quality and reputation of the Further and Higher Education systems and institutions to support national economic and social needs.
- Encourage better use of science in Government, foster public service innovation, and support other Government objectives which depend on the DIUS expertise and remit.
