The Government has praised Nottingham’s two “brilliant” universities for their response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson highlighted the impact both Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and the University of Nottingham (UoN) have had in the effort to fight coronavirus.
The two institutions have contributed over £1 million worth of equipment to support national testing for COVID-19, allowing for up to 20,000 people to be tested per day.
Experts from both universities have worked closely to supply Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines.
They have also donated fresh food to local food banks in order to assist on a local level too.
When asked a question by Nottinghamshire Live’s Kit Sanderman, he said: “Can I just take the opportunity to thank the two brilliant universities in the city of Nottingham, who have been playing an incredibly important role in terms of dealing with the coronavirus crisis.
“Whether that’s the University of Nottingham or Nottingham Trent University, who have actually lent key testing equipment in order to boost the nation’s capacity, and also to do tests, and are also working in terms of mapping the coronavirus so we can best understand and treat it.
“The city of Nottingham really goes to shine a light on what an important role higher education institutions play in terms of our battle with the coronavirus.”
A number of 260 medical students from the University of Nottingham were graduated early in order to head to the frontline to support the national effort.
Professor John Atherton, pro-vice-chancellor and dean of the University of Nottingham’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, said: “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures and we are incredibly proud that our talented graduates are able to step up to support the NHS in its hour of need, responding to the unprecedented pressures created by this coronavirus pandemic.”
Graduating around three months ahead of schedule if they passed their final examinations, students were eligible to gain provisional registration to practice with the General Medical Council before developing further on the frontline.
By Matthew Lee
Feature photo credit: Pixabay