The vistas over London from Warwick Business School's facilities at 'The Shard' provided an appropriate backdrop for the Commission's 4th November National Policy Symposium. Attended by national and local stakeholders, this event, on the cusp of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR2015), considered how national policies and programmes might support University (UoW) contributions to Coventry, Warwickshire and the Midlands over 2015-20 and beyond.

It is under ten miles from Coventry Old Council House to Leamington Town Hall, but the second Chancellor's Commission hearing - focusing on Warwickshire challenges and opportunities - provided important juxtapositions to, and some distance from, the city themes of the Coventry event.

Over the next fifty years Coventry expects further University of Warwick (UoW) success, and an even more profound university footprint in and on the city. Coventry will relentlessly leverage UoW assets, capabilities and resources - as a key component of the city's determined, dynamic ambitions.

Welcome to the University of Warwick (UoW) Chancellor's Commission on the future impact of the University on Coventry, Warwickshire and the Midlands. Over the next six months, I shall be working with my colleague Commissioners to enable the University and our many partners to define a longer term vision for UoW and our place in the region.