Turning universities inside out

There’s something that I believe lies at the heart of the collective future of our great city of Plymouth — the relationship between our universities and the communities they are a part of... 

​We have three amazing universities in Plymouth, all with their own unique strengths and specialisations. In this article I’m looking particularly at the vital role of the largest of the three - University of Plymouth - in shaping our shared destiny.
 
University of Plymouth has just launched a digital community hub that aims to make access to the university much easier and enable better partnerships and collaborations. It was created in partnership with a number of community organizations such as Plymouth Social Enterprise Network, Plymouth Octopus Project (POP), Nudge Community Builders and others. As a director of Iridescent Ideas CIC and Plymouth Social Enterprise Network (PSEN) and as guest lecturer at the university I’ve got feet in several camps. The community hub embodies the civic mission of UK universities and will play a key role in deepening our shared work for mutual benefit.
 
Universities are places of knowledge, innovation and discovery. They are home to our brightest minds, boldest ideas and most advanced resources in our society. Universities are not just educational institutions. They are civic institutions. They not only educate students but also they serve wider society — to enrich our democracy, support our economy, and enhance the quality of life in the communities that surround them. The civic role of universities is not a nice-to-have — it is a duty, and it must be taken seriously.
 
Universities are often among the largest employers in their regions. They spend millions in their local economies. They bring in resources, people and ideas from around the world. That status comes with a responsibility to act as local and regional anchor institutions: to engage deeply within the places they are based, and to help address the social, economic, and environmental challenges that local people face.
 
That means sharing knowledge in meaningful ways. Not just through journal articles or academic conferences but also through public lectures, through research with community organizations, through student internships and placements and through collaborative problem-solving with local charities, social enterprises, businesses and public sector. In short, it means turning the university inside out. This is something University of Plymouth does well and something our city should be proud of.
 
This community hub was designed with local groups like POP and PSEN to meet genuine needs. We ran workshops with a range of community partners to explore what was needed and how people wanted the hub to work. These workshops showed that, for some community groups, the university can sometimes feel distant, a touch intimidating and a challenge to navigate. A common message was that community organizations often want to collaborate with researchers but find no obvious route to do so. They might want to hire venues but find it difficult to easily book a room. The new hub specifically helps with this. Local groups can:
 

• Browse available university assets, from academic expertise to café spaces
• Conveniently book rooms
• Connect with researchers and students
• Find out more about events
• Explore internship and placement opportunities
• Get legal, dental and eyecare advice…
• …and more!

 
Public engagement must be embedded into the DNA of our civic institutions. We need to integrate community voices into the governance of civic strategies. And we need to keep developing mechanisms to jointly produce knowledge, rather than simply disseminate it.
 
For students, community engagement offers transformational opportunities for learning and growth. It connects theory with practice, education with purpose. It fosters empathy, responsibility, and leadership.
 
The University of Plymouth has long embraced its identity as a civic institution. Indeed the university was a founding member of the partnership that saw Plymouth become the UK’s first Social Enterprise City in 2013. The university has signed the Engaged University Manifesto and as a partner in the National Civic Impact Accelerator, it aims to improve economic, cultural, social and environmental conditions in the city. This community hub is part of that story.
 
We are living in a time of deep uncertainty. From climate change to inequality, from health crises to democratic fragility, from structural racism to enduring poverty. The challenges facing our society are immense. But they are not insurmountable. Universities have a critical role to play in helping us meet these challenges — not from a distance, but by standing shoulder to shoulder with the people in their cities, towns, and neighbourhoods.
 
Now is the time for us all to show civic leadership. For our university: be bold, champion civic access and invest in locally rooted engagement and relationships. For staff, students and researchers: seek out local partners, collaborate on projects, open doors to and with the wider community. For community groups and organisations: use the Hub, partner in proposals, shape research agendas, demand a seat at governance tables. Knock on the door. Your knowledge, your voices, and your visions are needed now more than ever.
 
I hope we all make good use of the community hub and ensure that Plymouth continues to lead the way as a model for place-based university–community partnership.