The North East's universities are leading the way in teaching and research alike, as The Journal's education correspondent Graeme Whitfield reports.
When scientists from Newcastle University became the first in Europe - and only the second in the world - to clone a human embryo last month, the eyes of the world focused on Tyneside.
But the ground-breaking work to find cures for diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson's is just one example of the pioneering work done at universities in the North-East.
Only a few days after hitting the headlines for its cloning success, for example, fellow scientists at Newcastle revealed they had found a potential cure for the hospital superbug MRSA.
Durham University is leading the world in areas such as renewable energy and stem cell research, and Northumbria has been named the country's best new university and chosen as the venue for a prestigious new design school.
Our universities are about more than just teaching excellence, however, and provide an influx of youthful and cosmopolitan energy to the region with each cohort of new students.
A recent poll of more than 13,000 students around the country recently voted Newcastle the best place to study in the country, and increasing numbers of young people who come to university in the North-East choose to stay after graduating.
The region's universities are also working hard to turn round the statistic which currently sees teenagers in the North-East the least likely to go on to higher education.
Sunderland University, for example, has the best record in the country for attracting students from disadvantaged backgrounds, closely followed by Northumbria, while Newcastle and Durham have made huge strides in shaking off their old elitist image.
The universities provide thousands of jobs, bring in millions of pounds from around the world and foster small companies that make money from our research.
100 Great Reasons... 1. Three North East teams in the Premiership - now Sunderland are back where they belong. 13. Jill Halfpenny, the Gateshead girl turned star of stage and screen - back home this summer at Live Theatre. 30. Tea in the Tree Tops Cafe at The Alnwick Garden. 43. Grey's Monument, commemorating the first steps towards modern democracy and at 135ft, up there with Nelson's Column. Click here to view all 100 Great Reasons
Brian Aitken, Editor, The Journal There are far more than 100 reasons why its great up North - that much is clear. We first published our supplement, 100 Reasons Why Its Great Up North, last September, listing some of the many things that make the North-East a great place to live, work, and just enjoy life a little. read more...
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100 Great Reasons...
Brian Aitken, Editor, The Journal
