About Civic University Agreements
The Civic University Commission spent a year taking evidence and visiting cities across the UK. Every university the Commission visited and received evidence from were able to give a long list of projects that were worthy and undoubtedly contributed to a civic role. In every institution, there are people who are passionate about civic engagement and the development of the locality.
What was much rarer was to see evidence of civic strategy – backed by rigorous analysis of local needs and opportunities, ambitious objectives and a clearly articulated plan that made place based civic engagement a core part of the university’s mission. This finding led the Commission to recommend the creation of Civic University Agreements (CUA).
The four principles
The Civic University Commission’s final report identified four principles that should underpin any Civic University Agreement. These were also set out in the statement signed by the leaders of the universities which have pledged to develop Civic University Agreements.
Published Civic University Agreements
As one of the largest education providers and employers in South Yorkshire, Sheffield Hallam University is proudly a university of place, rooted in the heart of our region and with a long history of civic engagement.
An innovative new partnership between Newcastle and Northumbria Universities which aims to improve the health, wealth and wellbeing of everyone in Newcastle.
The five higher education institutions of Greater Manchester have come together with our mayor Andy Burnham to drive social, economic and environmental change in our city region
Universities for Nottingham is a pioneering collaboration, bringing together the combined strength of Nottingham’s two world-class universities for the benefit of our place, people and communities.
This Civic University Agreement sets out the shared vision and action plan agreed by 12 anchor institutions in the London Borough of Lewisham. Together we have identified the priority areas where we can work together to improve the lives of those in our locality, with partners each playing to their respective strengths
The University and its anchor City Partners, as signatories of this Civic University Agreement, are committed to working together to help overcome the major social, economic and environmental challenges that we all face, together for Exeter.
The University of Sheffield is helping make the region an even better place. Working with partners, we’ve developed the Made Together programme, a landmark collaboration with four ambitions: to make the area healthier, more vibrant, more sustainable and more innovative
With over 160 years experience of working with our communities,
and our commitment to developing future-ready, work-ready learners,
we are here to make a difference.
The University of Lincoln and Bishop Grosseteste University are committed to working in partnership with their communities, through a CUA with the City of Lincoln Council.
A plan for investment by Keele University and partners to realise the benefits from research and innovation, to generate significant local economic growth, improve local health and care and put our region at the heart of the UK’s transition to a lower carbon economy.
Aston University delivered their agreement working in partnership with Aston University Students’ Union, Aston Villa Football Club, Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
As a longstanding neighbor to over two million residents, there are a multitude of ways in which Queen Mary works with and for its local people, communities and partners. The five themes outlined in the CUA are a result of this collaborative process and represent a strong, evidence-based foundation upon which they can build their civic purpose.
The University of Derby has launched their Civic University Agreement along with 15 signatories, reaffirming their ongoing commitment to playing their part in the prosperity and wellbeing of the city of Derby and the county of Derbyshire.
This Civic Agreement is a commitment between De Montfort University, Loughborough University, University of Leicester, and the city and counties of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to work together for the benefit of local people and the prosperity of our places. ‘Universities Partnership’ combines the collective strengths of our universities and civic institutions to make a greater impact through collaboration for, with and among our communities.
The University of Bristol, University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), City of Bristol College, Bristol City Council and the City Office have created this Civic University Agreement (CUA) as part of a national and international movement for higher education institutions to better connect with, and be a positive benefit to, their cities and regions.
The University of Essex has committed itself to improving the prosperity and wellbeing of communities across North Essex by signing a Civic University Agreement with partners.
Together, the Higher York institutions are committed to the economic, social, environmental and cultural life of the York City Region. Higher York has a strong track record of collaboration and partnership with key city region stakeholders to overcome the challenges facing our local communities.
The Edge Hill Civic University Agreement recognises the pivotal role the institution plays in supporting Wigan’s anchor institutions to enhance the lives of those within the Wigan borough.
Together with Luton Borough Council we are delighted to present our Civic Agreement for Luton. The Agreement sets out our shared ambition for Luton and our commitment to delivering Luton 2040: A Place to Thrive.
This Civic Partnership Agreement is underpinned by the University of Portsmouth’s vision to become the University for Portsmouth.
Falmouth University and the University of Exeter have signed a Civic University Agreement with Cornwall Council, the Council of the Isles of Scilly and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB).
This civic strategy brings the two universities together with the councils and the ICB to work in collaboration to support the region’s growth and prosperity.
The University of East Anglia are proud to be a civic university, listening to the voices of our region and developing partnerships to help improve the lives of our citizens and to share solutions.
The University of Birmingham is a pioneering global institution firmly rooted in the Birmingham city-region and deeply embedded in our local communities. As England’s first civic university, where students from all religions and backgrounds were accepted on an equal basis, civic engagement is in our DNA. From our inception, we have sought to support the growth and development of both Birmingham and the wider West Midlands.
At London Met, we’re committed to serving our community and driving positive change in London through collaboration and education. Our Civic University statement encapsulates this dedication, serving as the cornerstone of our mission. It highlights our partnership work, addressing local needs, and empowering our staff and students to make a meaningful difference.
Our emphasis on civic engagement fuels innovative research and tangible impact, showcasing our unwavering commitment to London’s prosperity.
The University of Suffolk has at the heart of its mission, a responsibility to be a model for a new type of civic university – embedded, influential and a focus of societal and economic change in all the communities it serves.
On April 24th the University of Suffolk celebrated the launch and signing of the agreement, marking a new chapter in the university’s partnership with the local community. The agreement is publicly available on the university’s website.
At the end of May, along with partners across the city, the University of Bath launched a Civic Agreement for Bath. Signatories to the agreement are the University of Bath, Bath Spa University, Bath and North East Somerset Council and Royal United Hospitals Bath.
This has been a long and complex project, and along the way, all of the separate organisations have had to do a lot of work both internally and with each other to find effective ways of being civically responsible and of working in partnership.
Should your institution be here? Contact us if your institution has published a Civic University Agreement or equivalent strategic place-based commitment, to feature on this page.
Getting started with a CUA
In 2019 a short consultation with universities working on civic agreements was undertaken by the University of Newcastle and the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement. The consultation included interviews and responses to an online survey completed by 30 institutions. Respondents to the consultation articulated three rationales for preparing CUAs:
- The turbulent political and policy environment mean CUAs are important as a tool to strategically prioritise a civic role.
- Building on what, at present, might be ‘informal agreements’ between institutions and stakeholders.
- A mechanism for self-assessment and peer evaluation to hold the institution to account in terms of reaching different outcomes (but not driven by metrics).
From this consultation, we now have a better understanding of the common issues and questions universities are grappling with. Five issues emerged as being particularly worthy of attention as you embark on developing a civic strategy or civic agreement:
- Local public voices should be at the heart of your Agreement
- Be clear about the role of the university in the partnership
- Be clear about the geography
- Identify required resource, leadership and institutional capacity
- Recognise and manage the risks
A step-by-step guide
Read our step-by-step guide to creating a Civic University Agreement in the resources section.