With nearly 182,000 full-time equivalent higher education students, the South East educates 14% of all graduates and post-graduate students in England.
Higher education in the region attracts approximately £920m in research grants and contracts every year.
65% of research-active academic staff work in departments graded 5 or 5* under the Research Assessment Exercise.
The South East has the second highest percentage of graduates in the workforce, second only to London.
Culture and community Universities and HE colleges throughout the region continue to ensure that the South East remains culturally rich and vibrant. They provide a wide range of opportunities for the public, ranging from museums to sports facilities, from concerts to venues for community meetings.
A world class region An increasingly prosperous and diverse region, the South East is a true economic powerhouse, excelling in knowledge based business and leading the country in hi-tech industries.
The South East´s economic output is comparable to that of Austria and greater than that of Denmark or Norway. It is the most prosperous region in the UK, but only 21st among EU regions in terms of GDP per capita.
Over 50% of the UK´s higher education research and development activity is based in the South East.
The region draws energy from London, while being the UK´s gateway to the rest of Europe.
23 unique institutions... Higher education in the South East possesses a powerful resource base that plays a key role in ensuring the region“s high GDP ranking, both in the UK and Europe. Many institutions have centres of international and national excellence, and are all developing a strong regional focus. This reflects the communities they serve, through the delivery of relevant courses and provision of small business support; by leading regeneration projects; or by reaching out to non-traditional student groups and promoting life long learning.
