University of Central Lancashire pledges commitment to the local community

30 April 2019

UCLan becomes the 50th university to sign new “Civic University Agreement” reaffirming local role

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has reaffirmed its commitment to Preston by pledging to put the economy and quality of life in the local community as one of its key priorities.

UCLan joins universities from across the UK in committing to produce a “Civic University Agreement” in partnership with local government and other major institutions.

The new agreement is a key recommendation in a report published today by the Civic University Commission set up by the UPP Foundation and chaired by the former Head of the Civil Service, Lord Kerslake.

The report sets out how universities like UCLan have the capability, opportunity and responsibility to support the places where they are based to solve some of their most pressing and major problems.

These issues range from helping local business in adapt to technological change, to boosting the health of local people, inspiring school pupils and adult learners, and training and developing new civic leaders in every field from politics to the arts.

The report aims to help universities like UCLan build on the excellent work that many of them are already carrying out in these areas, working alongside councils, employers, cultural institutions, schools and further education colleges.

Liz Bromley, Joint Institutional Lead at the University of Central Lancashire said: “We are delighted to be the fiftieth university to produce a Civic University Agreement which will reaffirm our full commitment to the City of Preston and the wider region. With a staff and student community of 35,000, indirectly contributing over £200 million to Preston and the North West economy every year, we are proud to play a major role in the economic, social and cultural development of our city.

“For UCLan, civic engagement is not a ‘nice to have’; or an ‘add-on’: genuine and meaningful relationships with the communities around us are vital if we’re to become the university we’ve said we want to be.”

"We are delighted to be the fiftieth university to produce a Civic University Agreement which will reaffirm our full commitment to the City of Preston and the wider region."

Lord Kerslake said: “The deep economic and social changes that are happening in Britain today have, alongside Brexit, made the civic role of universities even more vital to the places they are located in.

“The civic universities of the Victorian era were founded as expressions of civic pride, and as a way of sharing knowledge and opportunity at a time of rapid change.

“We are now entering a new industrial revolution when it will be even more vital that knowledge is accessible in as many communities as possible.

“It is not just people outside university grounds who will benefit. Universities are under unprecedented challenge and need to find a broader base of support. Universities need to be part of a community which is engaged, supportive and shares objectives.”

Lord Kerslake, the chair of Sheffield Hallam University, and a former Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council and Permanent Secretary at the Department of Communities and Local Government, added: “Universities have an irreplaceable and unique role in helping their host communities thrive – and their own success is bound up with the success of the places that gave birth to them.”

Richard Brabner, director of the UPP Foundation, said: “Universities have the ability to make a real difference to the places they are located in through reinvigorating their civic role. But this is not just a responsibility, it’s also an opportunity.

“This is an important report with concrete recommendations that all universities will want to consider. The UPP Foundation created the commission to look at what it means to be a Civic University in the 21st Century and ask local people what they wanted from their local institution.

“We know that many universities want to build engagement with the community around them. It’s excellent news that such an impressive list of institutions has already signed up and the UPP Foundation strongly endorses the report’s findings.”

The report was based on evidence-gathering sessions held across England. The authors also commissioned opinion polling and focus groups in cities and towns to hear from the public what they wanted from their local university.

"We know that many universities want to build engagement with the community around them. It’s excellent news that such an impressive list of institutions has already signed up and the UPP Foundation strongly endorses the report’s findings."

This research discovered communities welcome opportunities to connect with universities, and there is great local pride about how universities put their hometown on the map.

The Civic University Agreement, now signed by over 50 universities, includes four key points:

  • Understanding local populations, and asking them what they want. Analysis of their place and people’s priorities are essential.
     
  • Understanding themselves and what they are able to offer.
     
  • Working with other local anchor institutions, businesses and community organisations to agree where the short, medium and long-term opportunities and problems lie for communities. Linking with local authorities and other local plans, such as the local industrial strategy is particularly important.
     
  • A clear set of priorities. A process of agreeing clear priorities will therefore be necessary and, again, this is where collaboration and aligning resources with local authorities, LEPs (Local Economic Partnerships), NHS bodies and the like can help to identify the live issues that universities can most usefully help with.