Update from Network Core Team Member Natalie Day, Head of Strategy and Policy - Sheffield Hallam University
If you have managed to read the 400 odd pages of the UK Government’s Levelling Up White Paper, you’ll know that universities are amongst those mentioned as key enablers of this critical agenda, particularly when it comes to skills reform and economic revitalisation. We know we have a vital part to play, given our connections to local people, places and partners. That’s why it feels quite timely to be launching on Monday “Going Further and Higher: how collaboration between colleges and universities can transform lives and places” - a new report jointly written by Sheffield Hallam University, on behalf of the Civic University Network, and the Independent Commission on the College of the Future. As the title suggests, the report is a call to arms for the two sectors to prioritise working together in order to address critical challenges facing our local communities.
In developing the report, we gained insights and ideas from colleagues in universities, colleges and policy settings across the four nations, drawing from the differing tertiary education systems and a diverse range of case studies. These conversations helped shape our recommendations – which are aimed at both policy makers and institutional leaders, and essentially call for collaboration across FE and HE to become the default, rather than the exception.
Join us for the launch of this report on Monday where we’ll hear from key figures across both sectors, exploring their individual perspectives and discussing the recommendations that the report sets out (see full event details below), with speakers including Sir Ian Diamond, Smita Jamdar and Ellen Hazelkorn.
We’ll be following the launch with more targeted conversations within each of the four nations with sector leaders, as well as thinking through how this work can better connect and inform policy making. We’re also keen to hear more examples of what colleges and universities are doing to strengthen their ways of working, so please continue to share case studies with us.
In other news, our joint event with EAUC - 'Connecting Civic to Climate Action' is now live for bookings and we are looking for contributors for our Civic University Showcase series - more details below.
We hope you find this newsletter informative. Please forward it to any colleagues you think it may interest and they too can register for future editions using the subscribe button below:
Report launch: Monday 7th February 13:00 - 14:30 Going further and higher: deepening college and university collaborations
How can college-university relationships be further developed across the four nations of the UK to better support individuals, employers and communities?
Join the Independent Commission on the College of the Future and the Civic University Network on Monday 7 February, 13:00-14:30 to discuss their joint report at this online panel event.
We are delighted to be welcoming experts from across the four nations and across colleges and universities.
Speakers include:
Sir Ian Diamond, Chair of the Independent Commission on the College of the Future
Smita Jamdar (Chair), Partner and Head of Education at Shakespeare Martineau and member of the Independent Commission’s expert panel
Audrey Cumberford FRSE MBE, Principal & CEO at Edinburgh College and member of the Independent Commission on the College of the Future
Dr Shaid Mahmood, Chief Officer for Transformation and Change at Leeds City Council, Chair AoC and the Luminate Education Group and Pro-Vice-Chancellor designate at Durham University
Richard Calvert, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and Operations) at Sheffield Hallam University and Strategic Lead for the Civic University Network
Mark Huddleston,Director at jheSOLUTIONS Limited and formerly NI Commissioner for Employment and Skills
Webinar: Tuesday 22nd March 14:00 - 15:30 Connecting Civic to Climate Action
This practically focused event will draw on the collective expertise of the Civic University Network and the EAUC - The Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education, to explore the role of universities in developing and delivering appropriate responses to climate change.
Drawing on sector examples of both best practice and lessons learnt, this session will aim to help universities to identify connections and cross-overs with climate action strategies on campus, and their civic commitment.
Speakers include: Prof. Susan Lea, Vice Chancellor, University of Hull Prof. Julie Sanders, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Newcastle University Matt Dunlop, Head of Sustainability, Newcastle University Nick Gant, Founder Community21 - Social and Sustainable Design Research Group, University of Brighton
Our showcase event series provide universities engaged in civic work with the opportunity to discuss the civic work that they are undertaking including what is going well and the challenges that they are facing.
Would you be interested in sharing your work with other members?
Is there a particular aspect of your civic work that you’d like to highlight or a topic that you’d be keen to open up for discussion?
Please let us know by emailing civicuniversity@shu.ac.uk.
Previous Network event outputs
Civic University Network Showcasingevent - 3rd Edition
We have now launched the content from the 18th January Civic University Network Showcase event (3rd Edition) on the Civic University Network Members’ Area. This includes the edited recording of the event, plus the slides and links shared on the day. It’s the first item in the Video Case Studies in our ‘Striking your agreement’ section which you can access via the button below:
