This, like most other quotes in press releases, is a 'pseudo-quote': the words between inverted commas were almost certainly never spoken by the quoted source. They were written up by a press officer and, at best, merely approved by the source.
These quotes are added because of :
Liveliness
Quotes make the press release come to life, something which journalists will certainly appreciate when they determine if they will copy the press release or not. Alternatively, they even allow journalists to show to their readers that they got the information from the horse's mouth while in reality they didn't even have to take the trouble to pick up the phone.
Credibility
If you are able to use the words of Dr Barbara MacGilchrist, Dean of Initial Teacher Education at the Institute of Education, as support for your claim, then inevitably people will more easily believe you. And, again, the journalists too will be happy to retell the words of such elite sources.
Distancing
Pseudo-quotes in press releases allow the organisation to remain enthusiastic about the "top" quality of its own products or about this "unique" upcoming event without offending the journalists' sense of objectivity. After all, the superlatives - the hyperbole, cute spins and overt sales pitches, remember? - are between quotation marks and whoever copies them cannot - strictly speaking - be charged with side-taking.
Typically, such quotes are not included in the lead paragraph. Instead, they are reserved for the paragraphs towards the end of the press release.
Also note another preformulating use of quotes: press releases often start - in the headline or lead - with (indirectly) reported speech, attributed to the company as a whole (and not to a specific spokesperson):
