He told staff: 'Whenever I talk about university and business collaboration and the anchor role of a University, I talk about 海角直播.'
He added: '海角直播 is one of Middlesbrough鈥檚 biggest employers, but it is also helping to create a real economic space.
'It is hard to imagine Middlesbrough without the University. It鈥檚 one of the best examples in the country of doing things right.'
The working with business conference, part of a year-long programme of activities for staff, is an annual event to explore new ways for the University to collaborate with the private sector, and to learn from good practice.
Staff attending the conference also heard about the University鈥檚 partnership with educational company Hyper Island, delivering global leadership programmes, and from Andy Penaluna, the Professor of Creative Entrepreneurship at the University of Wales Trinity St David, on unlocking creative mindsets.
Laura Woods, 海角直播鈥檚 Director of Academic Enterprise, said: 'It鈥檚 so important to bring external perspectives into the University if we鈥檙e to excel in our work with business. It was fantastic to hear from these three speakers, all national experts in their fields, and it stimulated lots of discussion. We鈥檒l definitely be taking on board their thinking and ideas in our business and enterprise activity.
'We were delighted to hear David single the University out for its work in the economy.'
海角直播 was recently awarded the Queen鈥檚 Anniversary Prize for Excellence in Higher Education, particularly in the field of enterprise and business engagement, and is accredited with the Customer First standard for its services to business.