The University of Northampton supports Universities Week 2012

The campaign aims to increase awareness of the wide and varied role of the UK’s universities. This year’s theme addresses the contributions that our universities make – and have always made – to the Olympic movement, the sports industry and society as a whole.

Universities Week 2012 celebrates the diverse ways in which universities have engaged with the Olympic and Paralympic Games – from sports training, research and development, to the university-led Cultural Olympiad and volunteering projects that will support the London 2012 sporting events.

Universities Week will culminate with the BUCS VISA Outdoor Athletics Championships (OAC), a London 2012 test event as part of the London Prepares Series. Taking place in the Olympic Stadium, OAC offers students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete at the Olympic Stadium. On the Saturday night of the championships, one lucky student will get to commentate on the evening games to thousands of people in the stadium.

The campaign follows a successful Universities Week 2011, which saw 110 universities and 52 renowned ambassadors take part in showcasing the work of the higher education sector.

This year, the week looks set to be an even bigger success with a series of high profile ambassadors including Lord Seb Coe, John Inverdale and Dame Kelly Holmes helping to highlight how universities benefit everyone, whether or not they have been to university themselves. Hear what the ambassadors have to say athttp://www.youtube.com/universitiesweek2012 and tweet #UniWeek throughout the week to find out more, and to share your experiences of higher education during the campaign.