About the NCIA
The NCIA’s vision is to increase the connectivity, momentum, and effectiveness of the HE sector’s civic activities for local societal, economic, and environmental benefit and maximise the contribution universities can make towards addressing societal challenges and responding to policy priorities. We will do this by:
- rapidly prioritising, generating and mobilising intelligence about place-based working
- unlocking leadership potential and building capacity for more effective civic engagement, within and outside the HE sector
- driving innovative practice, scaling up effective partnership working and developing shared frameworks for practical action.
The programme, funded by Research England, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will create collaboration and policy and practice innovation involving universities, local government and business groups, and the community sector to drive place-based transformations.
New! Debate Stage
Welcome to our new series of blogs amplifying the voices shaping the future of civic universities and the places they call home.
Our new NCIA Debate Stage is the platform for a range of opinions, views and commentary on the UK’s civic university movement, designed to spark dialogues that illuminate the contribution that universities and other anchor institutions can make to the places they call home, and debate solutions to the challenges they face on their journey.
The NCIA Debate Stage features insights from a diverse range of thought leaders and change-makers at the forefront of the civic university movement. While the views expressed are those of the authors and may not necessarily reflect the official position of the Civic University Network or National Civic Impact Accelerator programme, they are intended to stimulate meaningful discussions and inspire fresh perspectives on how universities can deepen their civic impact.
Do you have a civic story to tell, or an idea to maximise the impact of place-based collaboration? Get in touch to contribute to this new series!
Adam Leach, NCIA Programme Director
In the world of data visualisation and impact assessment, design shapes how we perceive, understand, and connect various metrics. Ensuring accessibility isn’t just a ’nice to have’— it’s an imperative to create truly inclusive experiences….
There can be no doubt that the UK has been a pioneer of the civic university movement and others are looking to us. But the UK government must also take note of the experience of linking universities into other policy domains….
A difficulty with approaching design from the perspective of the user is it can reveal many ‘pain points’ that arise as the user achieves their goals. For those developing solutions to such problems, the challenge is recognising what is achievable within the scope of the project…..
There has been a shift in the sector to understand knowledge exchange as not just technology transfer to business – based on science, engineering, and medicine – but to include the contribution of the social sciences, arts and humanities to community wellbeing in the round….
The beauty of user-centred design (UCD) lies in its ability to rapidly challenge assumptions. When The Institute for Community Studies (ICS) embarked on the Civic Impact Dashboard project, we assumed…
We are committed to advancing community-engaged research and learning as a foundation for our work. By providing a space for creative problem-solving and driving academic research, we guide and support our members in achieving our shared mission of fostering positive town-and-gown relations..
Workstreams
Evidence Capture
Learning & Innovating
A dynamic learning and innovation programme to pilot civic approaches and build capacity.
Scaling Up
A sector engagement programme of support, tools, training, and communication to maximise reach
Programme Management
Cross sector governance from an expert panel and robust project leadership and infrastructure.
Icons by Oleksandr Panasovskyi from Noun Project
How well does your university resource its civic activities?
There’s growing enthusiasm for universities’ civic role, and an increasing number of university staff have ‘civic’ responsibilities. But we don’t yet have a clear picture of the resources that support this work. That’s why we’re inviting you to share your experiences and views in a new survey. Please spread the word to relevant colleagues and partners in HE institutions – thank you!
University Economic Impact: Two Essential Reports
We present two crucial studies examining the economic impact of universities on local and regional development:
1. Economic Impact of Universities: A Scoping Review
This report explores how universities drive local and regional economic growth, acting as anchor institutions that foster innovation, job creation, and community development.
2. Demonstrating the Economic Impacts of Civic Universities
This study identifies gaps in current impact assessments and proposes a dynamic, contextualised approach using the 12 Pillars framework to better capture universities’ civic economic contributions.
Key Insights:
- Universities as anchor institutions driving economic growth and resilience
- Evaluation of impact measurement methodologies
- Need for dynamic, context-specific assessments
- Introduction of the 12 Pillars framework for mapping civic economic impact
These reports offer valuable guidance for maximising universities’ positive impact on local economies and communities.
Authors: Dr Sara Hassan, Johannes Read, Prof Rebecca Riley, Alice Pugh, Prof Anne Green.
Becoming Civic: Reflections on the first phase of NCIA’s Action Learning Programme
The report reflects on the facilitation and observation of the NCIA’s action learning process, capturing key cross-cutting findings and emerging themes from meetings held in its first phase alongside reflections from participants. The action learning process has revealed five key themes. Discussions emphasised the significance of both internal and external resources in facilitating or hindering civic work. Participants shared various leadership models, from formal structures to community organising. While universities can easily declare their civic intentions, translating these intentions into actions is more challenging. Participants also explored different facets of power, including new forms of devolved governance and the perceived influence disparities between academic and professional staff. Additionally, there was a strong focus on communication and storytelling, underscoring the need for inclusive narratives that connect civic activities to broader concerns.
Femi Owolade and Julian Dobson at the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University
Sophie Duncan, Paul Manners, Gemma Adams, and Zoe Williamson at the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement
Equitable Partnerships for Civic Engagement
A toolkit for civic, community and university partners (BETA version)
Universities work with a wide range of partners to make a positive difference in, with and for their local places and communities. Partnerships are essential for civic engagement – but some partnerships are more equitable than others. Queen Mary University of London is leading the NCIA’s work on equitable partnerships for civic engagement.
Sarah Gifford, Daisy Payling, Kimberley Freeman, Alison Blunt, Queen Mary University of London
A review of the economic and social value produced through funding PhD students
UK Research and Innovation funded over £3bn into PhD-level study in 2022/23. The impacts of PhD study can have significant positive impacts on professional and personal development, especially for women, as well as generate significant returns for the individual, the Exchequer, industry, and university-industry collaborations. Still, there is a need to better understand the how PhD study fits into a place-based strategy, and civic role of universities, and their relationships with industry and place. This report shares the findings of a rapid evidence review into the economic and social impacts of PhDs to improve evidence and make an informed case for PhD study as part of a wider civic mission.
Johannes Read, Alice Pugh, George Bramley, and Rebecca Riley at City-REDI, University of Birmingham
A Theory of Civic Change
How universities can work for the good of their places
If you’re at sea and trying to reach a destination, you don’t just need a chart. You need to understand what’s going on around you: the weather, the currents, the prevailing winds where you are at this time of year. Becoming a civic university can be a bit like that. It’s not just about where you hope to go, but how you’re going to get there, who you’re going to work with and what needs to happen along the way. That’s why we’ve produced some new resources for universities that want to develop their civic practices: a theory of civic change, and an easy-to-read FAQ that can be shared with colleagues and partners. The theory of change doesn’t say what you have to do, but it charts some of the waters you need to go through and how you might navigate them well to get the best outcomes. You can download these resources here
Julian Dobson, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR), at Sheffield Hallam University
Developing the Civic University Mission
Lessons from Race Equality Initiatives in Higher Education
The civic university and anti-racist university missions are long-term abstract concepts, representing a sense of purpose, and an appropriate response to wider societal inequalities. In the context of the United Kingdom, these challenges encompass discussions regarding the value of higher education and broader societal disparities.
This paper sets out to understand the factors and systems driving race equality changes in UK universities with the overarching purpose of providing insights to facilitate the development of the civic university mission.
Femi Owolade, Research Associate at the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR), at Sheffield Hallam University
CiviCast
A new series of podcasts from the National Civic Impact Accelerator, now available wherever you get your podcasts!
If you prefer, you can also watch all episodes of CiviCast on our YouTube channel, or right here:
Funded by Research England
Research England shapes healthy, dynamic research and knowledge exchange in England’s universities. It distributes over £2bn to universities in England every year; works to understand their strategies, capabilities and capacity; and supports and challenges universities to create new knowledge, strengthen the economy, and enrich society. Research England is part of UK Research and Innovation.
I am delighted that Sheffield Hallam and our partners have been awarded this funding to establish the National Civic Impact Accelerator.
We know through our role in leading the Civic University Network that there is growing civic leadership across the sector, and a desire for more support and collaboration to help realise universities’ civic potential.
Through this programme we aim to deliver impact beyond the sector through strengthened relationships, collaboration and greater alignment between universities and local ecosystems.
Richard Calvert, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam UniversityI am honoured to be invited to join Sheffield Hallam University as visiting professor and to be asked to play a key role in the academic leadership and governance of the NCIA project and to act as a bridge to the ongoing Civic University Network so ably run by my new colleagues.The launch of the NCIA comes at a critical time for local communities across the country as we face major global challenges. I believe NCIA can actively support universities play a key role in helping our communities address these challenges
Professor John Goddard OBE, Visiting Professor, Sheffield Hallam UniversityThe Young Foundation’s Institute for Community Studies is delighted to be working with partners Sheffield Hallam and the NCCPE on the National Civic Impact Accelerator.
This timely investment will support the many organisations working to support thriving civic partnerships and places within the UK, including universities, local government and the charity and community sector, at a point where better-quality evidence, knowledge mobilisation and learning, has never been more needed.
Emily Morrison, Head of the Institute for Community StudiesThe National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement is delighted to be part of the NCIA. Since the early days of the Civic University Network, we have been determined to maximise the synergy between public, community and civic engagement. We look forward to working with the sector to raise our collective game in this vital area, by building the evidence base and to sharing and building on great examples of practice
Paul Manners, Co-Director of the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE)We are delighted to be working with our partners on this ambitious project to enable universities to deliver impactful civic engagement initiatives. At Queen Mary, we were pleased to launch our Civic University Agreement earlier this year, and this programme will ensure we have a strong evidence base on which to build. We know how vital it is to collaborate with local partners and across the sector and are looking forward to contributing to this work
Dr Philippa Lloyd, Vice Principal Policy and Strategic Partnerships at Queen Mary University of LondonThe University welcomes the opportunity to build on its civic foundations as a partner in the National Civic Impact Accelerator. It’s a great opportunity to share across the wider university sector, the partnership research experience and expertise developed through WMREDI and CityREDI in the West Midlands. We look forward to utilising the innovative approaches developed to enhance our own civic agreement as a local anchor institution
Professor Richard Black, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Social Sciences at the University of BirminghamDelivery Partners
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University is proudly a university of place, with a long history of civic engagement. SHU has always emphasised the importance of community and plays a leading role in the national civic university movement.
The Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research
Sheffield Hallam University’s Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) is a leading UK applied policy research and evaluation centre.
National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement
The NCCPE has a long track record of providing effective support to the sector, and to policy makers, to increase the quality and impact of their public engagement activity.
Institute for Community Studies
The Institute for Community Studies is a new kind of research institute, focused on how end to end evidence production and knowledge exchange with local stakeholders and communities can put people and communities at the heart of finding solutions to the issues that affect them.
City-Region Economic Development Institute
The University of Birmingham’s City-REDI is leading voice in the national civic university movement, focusing on how universities can support inclusive economic growth.
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London’s Centre for Public Engagement conducts sector-leading work, recognised by the award of the first NCCPE Platinum Engage Watermark. CPE’s strategic priorities include building equitable partnerships, championing the value of engaged universities and removing barriers to engagement.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The OECD’s Entrepreneurial Education, Collaboration and Engagement (EECOLE) network aims to strengthen the capacity of HEIs to collaborate with their surrounding communities and networks to promote innovation, sustainability and inclusion, in all regions.