Examining the concept of identities in peripheral cities

OECD and other studies show that all successful regional economies have significant university and college sectors. Virtually any study on what really drives regional or national growth will come down to the observation that national growth in GDP is driven by regions, instead of the country as a whole. Almost all studies also conclude that there are always universities or higher education institutions at the heart of successful regions. Greater Manchester has five higher education institutions and some 200,000 students in further and higher education. Universities, or “knowledge machines”, are therefore at the heart of successful regional growth and, therefore, successful urban regeneration.