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Lord Kamlesh Patel appointed to the University of East London

Wednesday 8 September 2010

Kamlesh Patel

Professor Lord Kamlesh Patel of Bradford has been appointed to the University of East London (UEL) as Director of Strategic Partnerships and Senior Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor.

Lord Patel, Shadow Minister for Communities in the House of Lords, will focus on creating strategic links between the University and public and private sector organisations regionally, nationally and internationally. He will also lead on a number of regional and national research and knowledge transfer projects in health, social care and criminal justice policy and practice.

UEL Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patrick McGhee says, “We are very pleased to welcome Lord Patel to UEL. His knowledge and experience in community engagement and social cohesion will be of great benefit to the University.”

Lord Patel says, “I am very pleased to be taking up this exciting, unique and challenging post. I am impressed by UEL’s strategic vision and welcome the opportunity to develop new models of how the higher education sector can engage with local stakeholder groups, students and public and private sector partners. There are also significant opportunities to establish direct links between this and the strategic development opportunities that are arising internationally, especially in India.”

Until recently Lord Patel was Professor at De Montford University and prior to that Head of the International School for Communities, Rights and Inclusion, University of Central Lancashire. He is internationally renowned for his work with communities and social cohesion across a range of issues including mental health, drug and alcohol use, crime and regeneration.

Lord Patel has been appointed to a number of national boards and committees, including the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work, the Home Office’s Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs, the Healthcare Commission and the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse. He has served with the Mental Health Act Commission since 1995, culminating in his appointment as Chairman in 2002 and appointment to the board of the Care Quality Commission in 2008.

Lord Patel has contributed to a variety of Government policies including the Government’s five year action plan for delivering race equality in mental health care. In 2007 he was appointed by the Prime Minister to act as a Ministerial Adviser to the Secretary of State (DCLG) in respect of the government’s PREVENT agenda (Preventing Violent Extremism); he is also Chairman of a National Taskforce looking at the effectiveness of prison drug treatment.

In October 2008 Lord Patel was appointed as Minister in the House of Lords Government’s Whip’s Office as spokesperson for Communities and Local Government, Ministry of Justice, Cabinet Office and the Attorney General’s Office.

Lord Kamlesh Patel joins the University of East London later this month.

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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