Teesside University joins national programme to boost community engagement

Teesside University has been selected to take part in a prestigious, national programme working to improve civic engagement within higher education.

The newly launched National Civic Impact Accelerator (NCIA) Action Learning Programme (ALP) has been developed to accelerate civic impact by addressing current challenges and developing solutions.

Twelve university partnerships from across the country have been invited to join the programme, including Teesside University, Anglia Ruskin University, City University London, Edge Hill University, Lancaster University, University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, Staffordshire University, University of the Arts London, University of Bath, University of Kent, University of York, and University of Leicester, De Montfort University and Loughborough University.

Participants will spend the next 18 months exploring how universities can work together with local communities, measure the impact of partnerships and be ‘truly civic’ in their work.

Dr Kieran Fenby-Hulse, Senior Research Fellow at Teesside University, said: “As an anchor institution, Teesside University is committed to embedding itself within the communities it serves and striving to make a real difference within the region and beyond.

“We are thrilled to have been included in this prestigious programme, which will improve and accelerate universities’ community engagement efforts across the country.”

The competitive NCIA ALP was launched by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE), which supports universities with community engagement missions, and Sheffield Hallam University, which is leading the NCIA.

Sophie Duncan, Co-Director of the NCCPE, said: “We are delighted to lead the Action Learning Programme as part of the NCIA project.

“There is significant expertise within civic university partnerships, but also a range of specific challenges impeding progress. An action learning approach will enable innovation and generate insight into how to tackle these challenges and put new ways of working into practice.

“The programme sits at the heart of the NCIA programme, ensuring we can draw on the evidence base, and share learning and insights with others.”

Adam Leach, NCIA Programme Director at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “I am thrilled to see these twelve civic university partnerships coming together with the fantastic team at NCCPE through the NCIA's Action Learning Programme to tackle common civic engagement challenges and find solutions that will transform their work.

“Their efforts will generate valuable learning and insights and help answer the question of how universities can become truly civic. I’m really excited to see the impact of this programme for higher education and communities across the country.”

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