Universities for Nottingham initiative launched today to help improve the lives of local people.

The Universities for Nottingham is a pioneering collaboration between the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, bringing together the strengths and civic missions of our two universities to help drive prosperity and opportunity across our local area.

Together with Nottingham Trent University, we have undertaken a joint economic, social and cultural impact study – and explored where we might be able to join-up our local programmes and activity. Drawing on the recommendations of the UPP Civic University Commission, this work will provide the foundation for a new approach to how we work with each other and with our local partners to help change the lives of people in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Join the conversation on twitter at #UnisForNottingham.

Our two universities already have a huge impact on the lives of local people and this is documented in a joint impact assessment report based on independent analysis from the consultancy Public First, as well as on the Universities for Nottingham website and through a series of videos.

On the morning of 20 January 2020, at Nottingham’s BioCity, the project will be launched in front of an audience of civic leaders, businesses and community organisations and set out our aim to create the first ‘Universities for Nottingham Civic Agreement’ later this year. This agreement will help establish a programme of collectively agreed and publicly shared projects between our universities and partners, around five themes.

These themes are:

1. Economic prosperity
2. Educational opportunity
3. Environmental sustainability
4. Health, wellbeing and culture
5. Unlocking the universities

How to get involved
The Universities for Nottingham initiative will support the University’s new strategy, which sets out a vision “to be a university without borders, reaching out to our civic partners”. It will form part of a broader civic strategy for the University, currently being developed by the University’s Civic and Regional Committee.

The initiative has been led by the Global and Political Affairs Unit (GPAU) within External Relations at the University of Nottingham. Members of the GPAU team are planning a series of internal roadshows to present the initiative to colleagues across the University over the coming months, providing information on how to get involved.  Over the coming months, we will explore the development of new internal network for staff interested in this agenda.

The University’s Institute for Policy and Engagement will also be involved in supporting researchers who want to get involved in the project and the wider civic university agenda, through their support of local policy impact and public engagement activities. This month, the Institute has provided funding and assistance for collaborations between academics and local public and third sector bodies across the region working in areas such as health, policing, social care, and refugee support.

To register an interest:

• in joining an informal University of Nottingham network for those currently, or interested in working more on the civic agenda;
• in attending a roadshow,
• in contributing to the ongoing storytelling about our impact with case studies from your work

To find out more, please contact the team at ufn@nottingham.ac.uk or get in touch with Political and Public Affairs Officer, Amy Williams.