A GLOBAL summit on social problems afflicting mankind is to be held in the North-East.

Delegates from China, Austral-ia, South Korea and Israel will attend a brain-storming session of the international Social Policy Association, at the University of Teesside, in Middlesbrough, next week.

They will be among 150 delegates at the two-day conference, which will discuss pensions, poverty, crime, housing and urban regeneration.

It is the second year the university has hosted the event.

Academics in social policy and practitioners from social services, the NHS and the probation service will listen to talks outlining the results of academic research and how it relates to practical experience. Their aim is to share experiences and practices to solve a range of social problems.

Speakers include Open University Professor John Clarke and Professor Ken Young, of the Economic Social Research Council.

Karen Morse, chairwoman of the organising committee, said: "It's great that the University of Teesside is hosting this conference again, as last year we became the first modern university to do so. The conference is a once-a-year opportunity for the best academics and practitioners to meet and share experiences.

"As well as the lectures and papers being delivered, we'll also be hosting a book launch, a special Child Poverty Action Group session and launching a new initiative, called Social Policy On-Line, a web-based register of experts who can be contacted for advice and to discuss further research projects with.''